Hyderabad:COVID-19 has impacted the livelihoods of Telugu students in Australia. After the lockdown, part-time jobs are hard to come by. Students are finding it difficult to survive after losing their part-time jobs. Telangana-based R Siva Reddy, chairman of Young Liberals Multicultural Association and Coordinator of NRI students, shared the challenges of students with Eenadu. He spoke with us from Melbourne.
The Australian government allows students to work part-time but most students are employed unofficially. With the current lockdown, only those who work in supermarkets and gas stations have jobs. The rest have lost their jobs. We are providing essential goods to such students. The virus outbreak is under control here. The lockdown may extend for a few more weeks.
There are 1.2 lakh Telugu students here. Most of them have petty jobs in the hospitality sector. Their problems compounded with the closure of this sector. The Australian government has announced that foreign students must return to their countries after international flights are restored. They may be allowed to return once the situation gets back to normal.
Only foreign citizens with Australian citizenship are exempted from this rule. We contacted the High Commission of India, Australia; and the officials responded positively. They asked students who need help to register on https://www.hcicanberra.gov.in/register.
The government has approved the use of super annuity for students who have been working here legally for a year or more. There is no shortage of essential commodities here. But supermarkets allow only 10 people at a time.