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Racial Discrimination Against Migrants From North East India

By Madhu Chandra

28 November, 2011
Countercurrents.org

Migration from North East India is at a peak now. The number has increased 12 times in the last five years. The year 2005 saw 34,000 migrants and the number increased to 414,850 in 2010. If the current trend continues, 5,000,000 are expected to migrate in next five years. With such increasing numbers, the challenges of racial discrimination and sexual violence faced by North East communities in megacities will also increase.

The North East Indian migration to megacities of India is a new trend, one that began from early 2000s. Before that, migrations were much fewer in number, and happened because of specific reasons—higher and professional studies and central government jobs to name a few.

What are the factors that are pushing so many people out from the North East region right now? One might immediately assume that the socio-political unrest in the region for over the last sixty years is the main factor. But the political scenario, even though it has led to various forms of socio-economic, developmental, educational, or law and order problems in the region, had never pushed people out from the region until recently. A study conducted by North East Support Centre & Helpline in March 2011 clearly reveals that the lack of higher educational infrastructure is the main factor for people to migrate to the megacities.

North East Council’s 2020 vision reveals that only 6% of students graduating from a 10+2 school system enroll in Government colleges in the region. 90% of these students opt for the Arts stream. The rest migrate to other cities of India for further studies and employment in private companies, and those who cannot afford to migrate simply drop put. In addition to this factor, the lack of employment opportunities, economic backwardness, and socio-political unrest are additional factors gradually pushing a large chunk of the population out of the region.

More astonishing are the statistics regarding how many of these students return to the region after completing their studies. The study conducted by North East Support Centre & Helpline reveals that only 5% return after their studies. It is clear, however, that if students return and share their knowledge in their home states, then the region will benefit and grow with their help. But with no employment opportunities available for them in the region, returning is often not an option for them.

Of the 66.35% of students from the North East that migrate for higher studies, 78.15% are looking for graduate studies, 11.48% for Engineering/managerial jobs, 6.80% for Research/Ph. D. and 3.57% for medical studies while 35% of migrants migrate for employment opportunities in other cities of India. 15% of employment migrations are for Government jobs and 85% for un-organized private sectors.

State governments like that of Manipur have failed to create employment opportunities within the state, and started encouraging students to seek employment opportunities outside the state. It seems the state governments are yet to learn the dangers of sending students outside the state through placement agencies. With fraud placement agencies targeting youngsters and children for human trafficking, the dangers of migration are various.

The challenges faced by North Easterners in megacities, particularly in Delhi and the National Capital Region, include racial discrimination and sexual violence in the workplace, market areas, colleges, schools, universities and the colonies where they live. This is going to increase in coming years, especially with the increasing number of migrations.

One must also remember that India is a caste-based society. Caste still runs and controls most segments of Indian society. The racial discrimination and sexual violence faced by North East communities, one might suggest, are also reflections of this caste-based society.

Patriarchal and caste-based Indian societies often have the impression that young people from the North East are polluting people socially, culturally and religiously. They might be forgetting that North Easterners, despite differences in appearance, dress code, or culture, are also fellow citizens, and a part of Indian society. Such a discriminating mindset violates the inspirational ideal of “Unity in Diversity” in Indian Culture.

Every Indian citizen has the right to migrate and live anywhere within the Indian Territory. But it seems that such rights are being denied to North East Indian communities in megacities. Discrimination, victimization and the lack of justice from the law-enforcing agencies are the major factors denying them of such rights.

Youngsters working in unorganised private sectors and business establishment as sales assistants face sexual harassment from employers and senior managers. Sometimes they work extra hours without pay, their salaries are delayed or denied, and they are suspended from their jobs without explanation. Sexual violence or racial discrimination affects the career and education of young people.

The increasing migration trends and challenges faced by migrants in megacities need to be addressed collectively and constructively. The increasing number of challenges could be confronted by addressing the lack of higher educational infrastructure in the region. The Union Government’s Rs 8000 cores budget for 2011-12 for North East India does not include any specific investment to develop higher educational infrastructure and neither do the Ministry of Development for North East Region or the North East Council. Until the higher educational infrastructure in the region is developed, the challenges of migration will continue.

The North East political leaders and state governments need to address the issues of racial discrimination and sexual violence immediately. With ever-increasing crimes against North Easterners, the challenge is huge.

Last but not the least; the region will get hit with challenges of human trafficking, specifically with India’s Look East Policy to open a gateway to South Asian countries. The placement agencies have targeted North East women for sex trade, bride trafficking, spa massage service, and men for bonded labour. All these should be taken into account in addressing the challenges faced by the people from North East India.

Madhu Chandra is a social activist and research scholar based in New Delhi and Spokesperson of North East Support Centre & Helpline (www.nehelpline.net).

 

 



 


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