MUMBAI: The Union government is in the process of drawing up a legislation to register and govern all agents and counsellors involved in the business of sending Indian students abroad. According to data from the external affairs ministry, India stands second in the world after China when it comes to students going abroad. But there is little data available on those who leave the country to join institutes abroad.

The fact that a legislation is being designed was shared by K Mohandas, secretary in the ministry of overseas Indian affairs, with the visiting Australian delegation that is in the country to "build confidence among Indians'' that their country is not racist.

Tulip Chaudhury, branch manager at the department of education, employment and workplace relations said some agents were not being honest about information they were passing on to students. "We have heard that agents are telling students that the cost of living is low in Australia, that they can work without restrictions and they can immigrate after two years of living in Australia,'' she said. When expectations don't match reality, it leads to ugly situations, the delegation told Indian government officials.

But there is nothing that can be done to bring these agents to book as India does not have a law to govern these private entities. When a complaint is received and evidence collected, Chaudhury said the Australian university is asked not to work with that agent, but "that is just half the story''.

However, she believes that when the Indian legislation is in place, it would be possible to trace the agent and punish him. "Then, the entire circle will be complete,'' she added.