NEW DELHI: As many as 103 Indians either lost their lives or were injured in attacks in Australia in 2010, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Overseas Indian affairs minister Vyalar Ravi said the matter has been taken up with the Australian government at the highest level and the number of attacks on Indians there has come down in recent months.
“The steps taken by the Australian authorities have been useful as reflected in the substantial decrease in the number of attacks in recent months,” he said in a written reply to a question.
Ravi said a total of 52 Indians had either lost their lives or were injured in 2009 while the number in 2008 was only 11.
“It has been conveyed to the Australian government that it was the responsibility of the Australian authorities to ensure the well being and security of all Indians in Australia,” he said.
Replying to a separate question on setting up of the PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) university, he said government has decided to establish it under the proposed Innovation University Act.
He said the process of setting up of the PIO University would commence once Parliament approves the Innovation University Bill.
The proposed legislations seeks to set up 14 innovation universities across the country under public funding, besides allowing promoters to establish such universities.
Each university will be based on a different model and concept with distinctive financial, academic and research structure. (PTI)
