Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi advises Indian students in the United States to “remain vigilant.”
New York:
Amid a series of tragic and worrying incidents involving Indian students in the United States, former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi has advised them to “remain vigilant” and respect local laws and urged them not to take drugs or drink excessively to ensure their safety . in this country.
Ms. Nooyi, considered one of the most powerful and influential business executives in the world, released a more than 10-minute video advising Indian students coming to the United States to stay safe and vigilant and avoid jobs that could bring them consequences. Troublesome activity. The Consulate General of India in New York posted the video on X on Thursday.
“The reason why I recorded this video is to speak to all of you, all the young people who want to come to the United States or are already studying here, because I have been reading and listening to all the news about several examples of Indian students finding themselves in unfortunate situations ,” Ms. Nooyi, 68, said in the video.
“It’s your responsibility to make sure you take every step to stay safe… obey the law, don’t venture into dark places alone at night, please don’t take drugs or drink excessively. All of those are just a recipe for disaster,” she said.
Ms. Nooyi implored students coming to the United States to “choose colleges and courses carefully.” Coming to the U.S. for higher education can be a “cultural sea change” for many, taking them far away from the comfort of their families, communities and ecosystems, she added.
For Indian students who are/planning to study in USA 🇺🇸: Very useful video information by Ms. @Indra_NoooyiFormer Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo @DrSJaishankar@MEAIndia@EduMinOfIndia@binaysrikant76@IndiaEmbassyUS@CGI_Atlanta@cgihou… pic.twitter.com/EWTrdKd4tg
— India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) March 22, 2024
“So, when you come to the United States, be very careful during those first few months upon landing, be careful about the friends you choose, the new habits you adopt, and how you respond to the cultural changes, because it’s easy to be caught giving up all the freedoms you have , and think you should try everything. Be very, very careful.” She noted that while Indian students have a reputation for being hardworking and successful, there have been incidents of young people trying and eventually becoming addicted to drugs like fentanyl.
“It’s deadly. Let me say it again, it’s deadly,” she said, adding that these are extremely harmful drugs that affect mental and physical health and “will certainly be detrimental to your career prospects here.”
“Please don’t get into the whole realm of experimenting with dangerous things. Most importantly, don’t get involved in illegal activities, know the law and obey the law,” she said.
Ms. Nooyi added that many international students are unfamiliar with the laws and regulations of their host countries. “It’s important to understand the consequences of your actions, so you must always be vigilant,” she said.
“You need to know your visa status and its permissibility for part-time work. Don’t break the law,” she said, adding that students must know “the boundaries of what you can do as a foreign student in the United States.”
Ms Nooyi also urged students to be aware of “safe areas” in cities where they live or travel. “Please avoid shady neighborhoods. Don’t venture out late at night alone, or at all,” she said, advising students to go out with friends.
Ms. Nooyi’s comments come amid a series of troubling cases regarding the safety and security of Indian students in the United States. Since the beginning of this year, many deaths of Indians and Indian students have aroused vigilance and concern from all walks of life.
This week, the consulate said it was working with local law enforcement to find Mohammad Abdul Arfath, a 25-year-old Indian student missing in Cleveland since earlier this month.
Sameer Kamath, a 23-year-old Indian-American student at Purdue University, was found dead at an Indiana nature preserve in February, according to authorities. A gunshot wound to the head.
In January, 18-year-old University of Illinois student Akul Dhawan was found unresponsive outside a campus building. An investigation revealed he died of hypothermia, and authorities ruled acute alcohol intoxication and prolonged exposure to extremely cold temperatures were the primary causes of death. In another tragedy that same month, 25-year-old Indian student Vivek Saini was beaten to death by a homeless drug addict in Georgia.
Ms. Nooyi emphasized that the United States offers extraordinary educational opportunities and is multicultural and welcoming. However, she added, studying in the United States is “not cheap at all, it’s very expensive, and you don’t necessarily get a job here today.”
“It’s not a guarantee. It shouldn’t be your goal in this globalized world because India itself is providing a lot of opportunities to educated people,” she said.
Ms Nooyi urged students to be “very aware” of the resources available at the university and in the local community, and “strongly” recommended that students work with university support systems, local Indian consulates and local Indian-Americans to learn from their experiences and seek them out when needed support.
She also called on students to beware of scams, including on social media, which could defraud them of their money and resources. She stressed the need for students to look after their mental health and wellbeing and stay connected with friends, family and support groups.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
