The figures can be disputed but it’s clear that Punjab is staring at a huge demographic crisis. It is being reported that around one lakh students have gone abroad especially to Canada to study and then to find employment. Most educational institutions here are complaining of a sharp drop in admissions. But the majority does not want to return.

Foreign dreams have always fascinated the Punjabi. Many songs have been written about it especially about going to ‘CANADA" The US is no longer a favoured destination due to the stringent anti-immigrant policy of the Trump administration and the same goes for the UK. Today, the preferred countries are Australia and Canada but Canada has far outstripped Australia due to its liberal policy and large Punjabi diaspora. Many Punjabis have either a relative or a friend, or both living there.

Canada so far has a stated policy of welcoming immigrants, they say it helps in multiculturalism and brings in the best. It doesn’t trouble them that the foreign students’ admissions make them richer by a few billion dollars! According to a report, Punjab has lost Rs 25000 crores to foreign admissions. The Canadian government has listed 250 colleges where these students can get admission and this has given a fillip to the exodus.

It’s a tragedy of Punjab that every young person who can, wants to get out. This will have very adverse social consequences in the future but both the Central and Punjab government seem oblivious to the emerging crisis. Not everyone who has gone abroad to study will get jobs and when they return after exhausting their reserves, Punjab will have a big socio-economic problem on hand.

It is also unfortunate that some who have recently gone have migrated with the culture of indiscipline, lawlessness, drugs, and violence. There have been fights in the Brampton area which has now become notorious. Not only the original Canadians but also the Punjabis settled there have started refusing accommodation to incoming Punjabis. Many houses now have put signboards saying ‘International students not allowed’. The basements where four-five students lived in a shared accommodation are no longer available.

The emptying of the state is a huge socio-economic challenge, yet the government seems somnolent perhaps deliberately, as they have fewer youth to worry about. But it’s a poor reflection on the state of affairs of what was once the number 1 state of the country.