5,000,000 North East Indian Migrations Expected in Five Years

Every Indian citizen has rights to migrate and lives anywhere within the Indian Territory. The rights to life and rights to live are denied to North East Indian communities in Mega cities in many forms. Many do not get justice from the law enforcing agencies.

Youngsters working in unorganised private sectors and business establishment as sales assistants, faces sexual harassment from employers and senior managers. Some time, they work extra hours without pay, salaried delayed, denied, and suspended from job without any given reasons.

Whenever sexual violence and racial attack happens, their carrier and studies affected immediately. Monika and her sister had to close their cyber cafe after assaulted sexually by a group of people in North Delhi in 2008. The both the victim of Duala Kuan gang rape cases of 2005 and 2010, returned to Mizoram. Linda had to stop her beauty parlour training halfway after assaulted repeated by house owner in 2007. Their economic and future carriers are shattered.

The increasing number of migration and challenges faced in mega cities need to address 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 so The Ministry of Development for North East Region and North East Council as well. Until the higher educational infrastructure is invested and 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 meted upon the people from North East India with the counter part of Union and concerned stated governments. The challenge is huge with ever-increasing crimes against North Easterners.

Lastly, not the least, the region will get hit soon with biggest challenges of human trafficking, specifically with India’s Look East Policy to open gateway to South Asian countries. The placement agencies have targeted North East girls for sex trade, bride trafficking, spa massage service, and boys for bonded labours. It should be included 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. He works as Regional Secretary of All India Christian Council (www.indianchristians.in) and Spokesperson of North East Support Centre & Helpline (www.nehelpline.net).

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