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By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 1:54:18 pm

Healing Beyond the Clinic

Dr Kirti Samudra “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” This thought by Mother Teresa finds reflection in the life of Panvel-based diabetologist Dr Kirti Samudra, who has spent decades caring not only for her family but also thousands of patients who see her as their guide. As we mark International Women’s Day, stories like hers remind us that women of substance often shape society quietly through compassion, resilience and dedication. Doctor, mother, homemaker,...

Healing Beyond the Clinic

Dr Kirti Samudra “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” This thought by Mother Teresa finds reflection in the life of Panvel-based diabetologist Dr Kirti Samudra, who has spent decades caring not only for her family but also thousands of patients who see her as their guide. As we mark International Women’s Day, stories like hers remind us that women of substance often shape society quietly through compassion, resilience and dedication. Doctor, mother, homemaker, mentor and philanthropist — Dr Samudra has balanced many roles with commitment. While she manages a busy medical practice, her deeper calling has always been service. For her, medicine is not merely a profession but a responsibility towards the people who depend on her guidance. Nagpur to Panvel Born and raised in Nagpur, Dr Samudra completed her medical education there before moving to Mumbai in search of better opportunities. The early years were challenging. With determination, she and her husband Girish Samudra, an entrepreneur involved in underwater pipeline projects, chose to build their life in Panvel. At a time when the town was still developing and healthcare awareness was limited, she decided to make it both her workplace and home. What began with modest resources gradually grew into a trusted medical practice built on long-standing relationships with patients. Fighting Diabetes Recognising the growing threat of diabetes, Dr Samudra dedicated her career to treating and educating patients about the disease. Over the years, she has registered nearly 30,000 patients from Panvel and nearby areas. Yet she believes treatment alone is not enough. “Diabetes is a lifelong disease. Medicines are important, but patient education is equally critical. If people understand the condition, they can manage it better and prevent complications,” she says. For more than 27 years, she has organised an Annual Patients’ Education Programme, offering diagnostic tests at concessional rates and sessions on lifestyle management. Family, Practice With her husband frequently travelling for business, much of the responsibility of raising their two children fell on Dr Samudra. Instead of expanding her practice aggressively, she kept it close to home and adjusted her OPD timings around her children’s schedules. “It was not easy,” she recalls, “but I wanted to fulfil my responsibilities as a mother while continuing to serve my patients.” Beyond Medicine Today, Dr Samudra also devotes time to social initiatives through the Bharat Vikas Parishad, where she serves as Regional Head. Her projects include  Plastic Mukta Vasundhara , which promotes reduced use of single-use plastic, and  Sainik Ho Tumchyasathi , an initiative that sends Diwali  faral  (snack hamper) to Indian soldiers posted at the borders. Last year alone, 15,000 boxes were sent to troops. Despite decades of service, she measures success not in wealth but in goodwill. “I may not have earned huge money,” she says, “but I have earned immense love and respect from my patients. That is something I will always be grateful for.”

The UK's New Asylum Framework: The Logic and Implications

Britain has unveiled its most far-reaching asylum reforms in decades, reshaping how the country grants refuge amid rising public frustration over immigration.

The UK government has announced its most significant asylum reforms in decades, fundamentally reshaping how the country grants refuge amid growing public frustration over rising immigration, which has fuelled protests nationwide this year.


Before 2020, Britain’s net migration usually ranged between 200,000 and 300,000 a year, according to the ONS. But after Brexit took effect, the UK saw a marked rise in undocumented immigration, with net migration reaching 906,000 in the 12 months to June 2023.


Over 100,000 people now live in taxpayer-funded asylum accommodation, and many refugees remain unemployed for years after receiving protection. In 2024, UK asylum claims rose by 18 per cent, while across Europe they fell by 13 per cent.


The reforms introduce three major changes to Britain’s asylum system. First, refugee status will no longer be indefinite. Those granted protection will receive 30-month permits, regularly reviewed, and their status can be revoked—and removal pursued—if the Home Office deems their home country safe. This marks a clear break from the current five-year permits that lead to indefinite leave to remain.


Second, the path to British citizenship will stretch from five to twenty years, creating one of the longest settlement routes in any major asylum-receiving nation and requiring refugees to maintain their status through multiple review cycles.


Third, the government will end the statutory duty to provide asylum seeker support—housing and weekly allowances introduced under EU law in 2005—meaning accommodation and financial help will no longer be guaranteed for those awaiting decisions.


The appeals system will also be streamlined: one claim, one appeal, handled by a new independent body.


Why now?

The new policy is driven by public opinion, political pressure, and structural limits. Public concern about immigration has risen sharply across Europe, and in the UK it has become voters’ top issue—overtaking even the economy.


Politically, the government faces growing pressure: immigration dominates domestic debate, parties are internally divided, and competition from more restrictive actors is strong. The plan draws heavily on Denmark’s strict asylum model, seen as a politically successful example after Denmark’s centre-left government retained support despite tough measures.


There is also a structural constraint. Post-Brexit, the UK can no longer use the EU’s Dublin system to transfer asylum seekers to other states. This limits the ability to redirect secondary movements and pushes policymakers to focus on reducing domestic pull factors rather than relying on external processing.


European comparison

While the UK’s proposed asylum framework takes cues from Denmark’s strict model, approaches across Europe differ widely. Germany has long received large numbers of asylum applications and emphasises integration, though it too faces pressure to tighten controls. Sweden, once known for its liberal stance, has adopted more restrictive measures after years of high arrivals. Southern European countries—especially Spain, Italy, and Greece—act as primary entry points to the EU and struggle with the sheer volume of arrivals, prompting calls for more equitable burden-sharing.


Across the continent, the common thread is a tension between international legal obligations, public and political pressure to control borders, and the challenge of managing humanitarian flows—producing a fragmented and continually shifting policy landscape.


Top source

Over the past decade, most asylum seekers arriving in the UK have come from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Bangladesh, and Syria. Among small boat arrivals—which make up about one-third of all asylum claims—the main nationalities have been Afghan, Syrian, Eritrean, Iranian, and Sudanese.


However, many people who apply for asylum initially enter the UK on legal visas such as study, work, or tourist permits. Pakistan stands out here, as it has become the most common nationality among such applicants. Recent data shows that around 40,739 migrants claimed asylum in 2024 after arriving on legitimate visas. Of these, Pakistan accounted for more than 11,000 applications, with about 10,000 Pakistani nationals entering on temporary visas before switching to asylum claims.


Britain’s asylum reforms mark a decisive shift towards one of Europe’s most restrictive refugee systems. With these stricter measures, the UK has moved beyond even Denmark’s tough model. The changes stem from several factors: rising public concern over immigration, post-Brexit limits on transferring asylum seekers to EU states, and political competition from harder-line parties. As European nations face similar pressures, the UK’s approach may become either a cautionary tale or a template—depending on whether it meets its aims without eroding core principles of international refugee protection.


(The writer is a foreign affairs expert. Views personal.)

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