SHILLONG:
In view of the struggle that Indian students studying in war-torn Ukraine are facing to return home, the government of Nagaland said that lack of higher education in the state is compelling students to venture out thus making them susceptible to such “unnecessary” suffering.
Abu Metha, the adviser to the chief minister, said this after meeting Olika Mlato Shikhu, a resident of Dimapur studying in Ukraine’s Poltava who returned to Delhi yesterday. After hearing her ordeal in the war-hit country, Metha, through a post in a social networking website, said, “… this incident once again highlights our problem of lack of higher education in Nagaland .. also the country must address artificial scarcity in medical seats, improper management & distribution of seats … and over regulation and lack of expansion … deep introspection and action required .. or else our students and youth will continue to suffer and remain vulnerable (sic).”
Terming her arduous journey a “miraculous one”, Metha said, “She faced fear, death and trauma every minute in a foreign land amongst strangers… what a brave woman .. she is already a HERO (sic).”
Shikhu is one of the three Naga students studying in war-torn Ukraine. The other two are – Lanu Amenla Aier and Machi Yirakchang — studying at different cities in Ukraine, who had set out to the neighbouring countries of Ukraine to catch a flight to India. They are reportedly out of the war zone.