2 February 2017, New Delhi – Chief Minister of Mizoram, Shri Lal Thanhawla has written a letter to the Union Minister of Home Affairs Shri Rajnath Singh seeking immediate steps to address cases of rape, sexual violence and racial discrimination against people of Northeast on January 24, 2017.
Urging the central government to implement Bezbaruah Committee Report’s recommendations, Chief Minister also demanded to develop a National Diversity Policy in his letter.
Mr Lal Thanhawla has written a detailed letter stating that around 4 to 5 lakh people from Northeast India are living in the metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, in search of better educational opportunities and job prospects but they have to face racial discrimination on the daily bases and most of these cases are unreported.
The Bezbaruah Committee was formed in February 2014 to look into these issues. The Committee’s report recommended series of short-term, mid-term and long term goals for the safety and security of people from Northeast. Unfortunately, almost three years since its inception, the Committee’s recommendations still require implementation barring a few.
Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla has urged the central government to implement the following recommendations at the earliest in his letter.
- Legislation of a National Anti-Racial Law as recommended by the Bezbaruah Committee Recommendations
- Formulation of a National Diversity Policy to ensure safety and security of all citizens of the country
- Establishment of Fast Track Courts for speedy trial of cases concerning people from Northeast
- Adequate compensation for survivors and their families of heinous crimes related to racial discrimination
- Inclusion of history of Northeast in school textbooks to be done by 2017
- Proper implementation of free legal services for people of Northeast India living in the metropolitan cities
- Nodal officers to be appointed to protect people of Northeast travelling in Indian railways
- Urgent and strong steps to be taken to prevent sexual violence and trafficking of women of Northeast in rest of India and abroad
- Adoption of a National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security to ensure safety and security of women and girls
- Rape Crises Centres to be established in each of the 104 districts of Northeast India with proportionate women police
For any questions and clarifications, kindly contact
Office of Control Arms Foundation of India/ Northeast India Women Initiative for Peace
B B5 / 146, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi-110029, India
Phone: +91-11-46018541 Fax: +91-11-26166234
Web: www.cafi-online.org
