March 23 :
Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCO, has expressed concern about the rising incidence of Indian student deaths in the US in recent months. In a ten-minute video that the Indian consulate general in New York uploaded on X, Nooyi cautioned students to exercise caution in the first few days following their arrival in the United States. At least eight students of Indian and Indian-origin have died in the US thus far.
Nooyi made the argument in the film that attending college in the US is costly and that graduates might not find employment. She also emphasised the significant cultural shift that Indian students face in their nation and urged them to exercise caution when choosing a college.
When it comes to selecting your companions, forming new routines, and adapting to cultural shifts, exercise extreme caution when you first arrive in the United States. In order to benefit from their experiences and ask for help when needed, I would highly advise the students to get involved with the university's support network, the Indian consulate in the area, and local Indian-Americans, as Nooyi stated in the movie.
"Indian students have a reputation for being hardworking and successful, but occasionally we hear about cases of young people abusing drugs like fentanyl and developing an addiction to them," the speaker continued.
She went on to say that it is really bad for kids' physical and mental health and that going to college will hurt their chances of getting a job.
Nooyi continued by asking the kids to abstain from all illegal activity. She stressed that students should be aware of the repercussions of their behaviour and said that many international students are unfamiliar with the laws and regulations of their host countries.
Certain actions might not be grounds for legal action in India, but they might be in the US. Students should confirm that they are aware of the legal systems in the two nations. As international students, they ought to be aware of this nation's boundaries, she continued.
The entrepreneur made an appeal to students to look after their mental health, saying, "Please take care of your mental health as the US education system is rigorous and it can be a bit lonely because it is not a familiar environment for you." This place has a hectic, fast-paced lifestyle that might be stressful.
