Parliamentarians on Monday demanded that the government draw up a policy allowing students evacuated from war-torn Ukraine to complete their medical studies at Indian universities. Highlighting the issue during zero hour in the Lok Sabha, Congressman Rajmohan Unnithan (Kasargod) claimed that thousands of students from Kerala were still stranded in Sumy Ukraine and demanded that the government take urgent action to bring them to safety.

Congressman Abdul Khaleque said the government should have taken action sooner to evacuate students from Ukraine and not have waited for hostilities to break out. Indian students had to travel by their own means to neighboring countries of Ukraine. In reality, it cannot be called an evacuation as the government claims, said Khaleque, a member of Barpeta in Assam.

YSRCP members PV Midhun Reddy and M Sreenivasulu Reddy demanded that the government take action to relocate rescued students from Ukraine to medical colleges in India to enable them to complete their studies. Reddy demanded that the government open more medical schools to ensure students can complete their education in the country.

Congressman Kodikunnil Suresh wanted the government to waive student loans taken out by students pursuing their studies in Ukraine by invoking the act of war clause to prevent them from falling into the debt trap. Students rescued from Ukraine face an uncertain future due to their inability to complete their education and also run the risk of falling into a debt trap as they may find it difficult to repay their education loans, said he declared.

He also demanded that the government grant specialized help to the students to overcome the mental trauma they face in the war zone. Suresh also suggested the government set up a student welfare wing in each embassy as a policy intervention to help students in times of crisis.

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