Immigration authorities in India reportedly deported 19 Britons who went to Chennai, India to take part in a charity at a children's home on Monday 17 July. The British citizens - 16 students and three staff members from Poynton High School in Manchester in the UK were told that they could not enter the country using the visa they were holding because they were 'going to work' an NGO in Chennai.
The children landed in Chennai on Monday 17 July carrying crates of materials to be distributed to children's homes supported by an NGO, India Direct. The students were left scarred as they waited for 11 hours, before they could board a return flight. The teacher who accompanied the children were allegedly interviewed for two and half hours by the immigration officials.
Poynton High School head teacher David Waugh reportedly told the BBC, "They were going to play with the children they have helped and paint a mural. The staff and students are in a state of tired shock having travelled for 48 hours as a round trip." He has written to the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO), and they are following up with the Indian Governent, sources revealed.
The High Commission of India in London has received a number of letters querying about this matter, including one from the FCO, a source told Asian Voice. “The problem is the students had applied for e-visa for tourism, but were going for work with an NGO. India Direct is on the list of valid charities that our Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) maintains. However these kind of visits require a visa under category X, and one needs to apply through VFS, which in turn we approve,” the source confirmed.
The High Commission also told the newsweekly that they are not yet aware if the school wants to go back to India again, as none of the queries raised with them have raised that point.
Earlier, on its Facebook page, India Direct wrote: "On Monday 17th July 2017, 16 students and 3 staff flew out to Chennai, India, to once again visit and support this great charity. However, they were turned back at immigration and refused entry into the country. Chennai airport immigration officials claimed that the group had no rights to enter the country on their visa because they were going to be undertaking work with a non-governmental organisation. In reality the students were going to visit the Children's homes that they have raised thousands of pounds for, and to experience the rich, diverse and exciting culture of the region. Extensive efforts were made to get the immigration official's decision overturned, but to no avail.
“The students and staff returned back to Manchester, via Dubai, landing at Manchester Airport in the early hours of Wednesday 19 July morning, along with the toys and stationery that they had taken over for the children in the homes. As you can imagine the staff and students are in a state of tired shock, having travelled for 48 hours as a round trip. Our hearts go out to this great team of staff and students, who have already made a real difference, and who must be so disappointed.”
