.

Another North East Girl Sexually Assaulted in Daylight and Accused Arrested

2007-11-05T00:24:00.000-08:00

New Delhi, November 4, 2007

A Girl from Manipur was sexually assaulted by a resident of Sabdarjan Enclave in Daylight today. The accused in arrested by police.

According to the information reaching to NE Support Centre & Helpline, the girl was coming out of her rented house in Sabdarjan Enclave, New Delhi this evening, a man seems to be drunk came in front of her and assaulted her sexually in daylight.

Soon after the incident, the police was informed and man was arrested under the charges of sexual harassment. Till the filing of this report, copy of the FIR is not delivered to the victim.

The incidents of sexual harassment meted out to irrespective of people’s background have left the grave concern.

A girl employed in a Call Centre in Pune was reported raped and murdered on November 1 has caused the panic to the young girls and women who worked in Call Centre night shift.

Sensitization to the student communities as well as to the working girls and women is the need of the hour. NE Support Centre & Helpline is organizing sensitization seminar among different communities and societies to bring awareness of alarming issues.

North East Support Centre & Helpline (www.nesupportcentre.blogspot.com) is a joint initiative of various human rights activists, social workers, students, journalists and lawyers seeking to prevent harassment and abuses meted out to North East People and tribal communities of other states.

North East Support Centre & Helpline

A Landlord Refused to Refund Advance Money to Three North East Students in Delhi

2007-11-01T06:26:00.000-07:00

New Delhi, November 1, 2007

A report reaching to the North East Support Center (NESC), a Landlord in Safdarjung Enclave refused to pay back the advance money given by a three North East students for renting rooms. Rooms were agreed to rent out to North East students but it was rented out to others when they went to occupy. In spite of the request, the landlord refused to give back the advance payment of rupees 2000 telling them to never show their face.

The incident happened when those students went to occupy the rooms on October 30 as per the ageement between them and landlord and happened to be rented out to others. When these students requested the landlord to return the money, it was refused inspite of repeated request. It is a shabby two rooms which the landlady agreed to rent it out for 5500 rupees and took advance rent of Rs 2000 on October 26.

This is not the first case reported about the harassment by landlord’s done to North East people in Delhi. Priya narrates that such kind of harassment is not new to them. Even if they want to protest, they are helpless as the police are not eager to help them and they are outnumbered for any action taken. There are around five such cases the NESC encountered where the landlords refused to return back the tenants money in Safdarjung Enclave which was left unreported.

Iban who resides in Muniraka and who works in call centre says, “The problem as to why the landlord’s take advantages of North East people is because most of us never bothered to have written documents when we rent a room or give out advance money. We need to be aware that we cannot just go and rent any room like back home but need to deal every process legally.” She added “Out here people are not naïve and do not have mentality like back home; they are always out to grab money from different means and we seem to be the easy target.”

Reports reaching to NE Support Centre & Helpline, the incidents of harassment meted out to North East People living in Delhi and NCR are increasing day by day. The mindset of the Delhilites toward North East People and Tribal communties of other states is the main factor of the discrimination. The discrimination takes places in multiple form of harassment such as suspension from jobs, sexual abuses, physical harassment, landlord harassment etc.

North East Support Centre & Helpline (www.nesupportcentre.blogspot.com) is a joint initiative of various human rights activists, social workers, students, journalists and lawyers seeking to prevent harassment and abuses meted out to North East People and tribal communities of other states.

Sd/-
Madhu Chandra
Spokes Person
North East Support Centre & Helpline
9868184939

To get news from NE Support Centre & Helpline on your mobile

2007-10-28T06:49:00.000-07:00

To get news from NE Support Centre & Helpline on your mobile, send an SMS 'JOIN nesupportcentre' to 567673434. One time registration will cost you Rs 2/- and the rest is free.

We also put up all the report of harassments and abuses on this site after they are release to medias and concern authorities.

We are also managing a google group mailing list, so that we can update you from time to time.

You can join the group mailing. Go the to the group link to join the group for those gmail id holders. http://groups.google.com/group/nesupportcentre. For others write to nesupportcentre@gmail.com. NE Support Centre & Helpline has applied for it own website and it will be soon available at www.nehelpline.net

NE Support Centre & Helpline Team

Two North East Girls Victims of Call Centre Manager’s sexual advances. Stops salary and suspends workers when they refuse

2007-10-28T01:23:00.000-07:00

New Delhi, October 27, 2007

A manager of a New Delhi Call Centre made sexual advances to two young women from North East India, and then stopped their salary and suspended them from work when they resisted his overtures.

The victims have complained to the NE Support Centre & Helpline.

NE Support Centre & Helpline’s initial investigations show, two women from Nagaland, aged about 23, were employed by Accurate Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO), Green Park Extension, New Delhi on September 4, 2007.

The manager of Accurate BPO allegedly made sexual advances to one of them, repeatedly asking her to accompany him on many occasions.

The young woman refused. The manager then allegedly turned to her friend. She too refused to fall in the trap.

He allegedly retaliated by stopping the transport pick up service to bring them to office and dropping them to the house they had rented in Safdarjang from October 12, 2007 onward. The women were forced to find their transport home late at night.

They told the NE Support Centre & Helpline that the manager abused them in the office and told them not to attend the office any more. The salary for the month of September has also been denied to the victims.

NE Support Centre & Helpline has no response from the Call Centre.

Racial discrimination in national capital has increased in many forms, and women from the North East and other tribal-dominated States such as Orissa and Chhattisgarh, are victims of sexual abuses and harassment in work places.

A week ago a girl from Manipur was molested by a tenant in Mahipalpur on October 21, 2007. The duty officer of Vasant Kunj Police station refused to register case until the Media intervened. The accused was arrested but the police failed to book a case under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocity Act though the victim belong to Scheduled Tribe community.

North East Support Centre & Helpline (www.nesupportcentre.blogspot.com) is a joint initiative of various human rights activists, social workers, students, journalists and lawyers seeking to prevent harassment and abuses meted out to North East People and tribal communities of other states.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. Madhu Chandra
Spokes Person
9868184939

A North East Girl Sexually Assaulted and Beaten by Man. Students Forced to Vacate Rented House. Police delayed Registering Complaint.

2007-10-22T02:29:00.001-07:00

New Delhi, October 22, 2007

Same night after “North East Support Centre & Helpline” was officially launched at Press Club of India, a tribal girl age of 21 years old from Manipur was sexually assaulted by a tenant at 12:30 AM on October 21, 2007. In spite of protecting the victim, the landlord forced victim’s cousin and other students from north east India living in the rented house to vacate the rooms without any notice.

Fact Finding Team of “North East Support Centre & Helpline” after hearing the news of the incident, rushed to the spot and gave immediate trauma counseling to the victim. An application was lodged in Vasant Kunj Police station to book the accused and landlord under SC/ST Atrocity Prevention Act (1995)

The incident happened when she along with her sister went to visit her cousin brother who lives in rented a room in Mahipalpur.

The Victim reports to North East Support Centre & Helpline, “When my friend went to shared bathroom outside the room, I was waiting outside for her, a tenant claimed to be a police man started taking picture of me and molested me by pointing out to my private parts.”

When she screamed, her cousin brothers came out in rescue of her. They were abused by the man claimed to police in front to the residents by making assault remarks on them.

Next day, the landlord, instead of protecting the victim, forced three students from Manipur living in the rented rooms of the same building to vacate the house immediately without any prior notice. Students sought shelter in their friends living near by along with their belongings after they were pushed out by the landlord.

Fact Finding Team consisted of Supreme Court Lawyer Ms. Lansinglu Rongmei, All India Christian Council’s Regional Secretary Rev. Madhu Chandra, Journalist Ms. Lemyao Shimray, Dr. Alana Golmei and Mrs. Mandali Devi rushed to the spot and gave trauma counseling to the victims and lodged complaint in Vasant Kunj Police station under SC/ST Atrocity Prevention Acts (1995).

The Duty Officer Mr. Nalka Ram refused to entertain the complaint. After waiting for two and half hour long, under the instruction of Station House Office of Police Station Mr. Rajesh Kumar endorsed the application by victims and First Information Report (FIR) with appropriate sections of IPC and under SC/ST Atrocity Prevention Act (1995) will be registered.

Girls from North East India have suffered sexual abuses at work places, colleges, rented homes, roads and market places in recent time. In 2005 a girl was raped in a moving car. A girl was molested by a manager of Mall in Gurgaon last year and in last September, two girls were assaulted in Delhi University Campus, of which duty office of Police station refused to take their complaint.

North East Support Centre & Helpline (http://www.nesupportcentre.blogspot.com/) is combined initiative of various human rights activists, social workers, students, journalists and lawyers seeking to prevent harassment and abuses meted out to North East People and tribal communities of other states.

Yours sincerely,

Sd/-
Mr. Madhu Chandra
Media In-charge
9868184939

Medial Coverage

2007-10-21T01:37:00.000-07:00

CNN IBN Coverage
http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/50947/racially-discriminated-people-from-ne-start-helpline.html

Help centre for youth from northeast in Delhi

http://www.indiasnews.com/News-2005506.html
New Delhi, Oct 19 (IANS) The youth from the northeastern parts of India often get discriminated for their distinct looks and are branded as chinkies, but help is round the corner in the form of Northeast Support Centre to be launched here Saturday.

The support centre will help all victims of sexual and racial harassment in the capital through their group SMS and telephone help line initiatives.

All India Christian Council, All India Confederation of SC/ST, All India Catholic Union and the North East Students United Forum are the four organisations spearheading the centre.

Madhu Chandra, a core member of the centre, said that this initiative has been in the pipeline for some time but with the recent sexual harassment case of a girl in Delhi University's (DU) north campus area speeded up the entire process.

"We submitted a memorandum to Y. S. Dadwal, Delhi Police Commissioner, with regards to that just days before the case when a girl student was sexually harassed in DU. After that we realised that we had to do something fast," Chandra told IANS.

"Although the name of the centre is North East Support Centre, we will help anyone in need," he said.
A victim can access the authority in the centre, through SMS and phone lines, and get immediate help.

"For instance, in Gurgaon, we will station two members to begin with. Suppose a girl is harassed and she doesn't get help from the police, then we will intervene and do the needful," Chandra said.

The telephone help line, will function in a similar way. Although the permanent helpline number has not yet been registered, four temporary numbers that will be functional are-9868184939, 9818314146, 9868157066 and 981055490.

"The last time I visited home in the northeast, some people from Nagaland and Mizoram told me that with the rising number of cases of racial and sexual harassment meted out to the young people of the northeast, I should do something for them as well," he said on the origin of the idea for such a help group.

Valsom Thampu, principal of Delhi University's St. Stephens college, John Dayal, member of the National Integration Council and Udit Raj, chairman of the All India Confederation of SC/ST will be a part of the launch function.--Indo-Asian News Service

Support centre to help North-East youth
New Delhi, October 20
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071021/delhi.htm#2

The youth from the northeastern parts of India often get discriminated for their distinct looks and are branded as chinkies, but help is round the corner in the form of Northeast Support Centre.

The support centre will help all victims of sexual and racial harassment in the Capital through their group SMS and telephone help line initiatives.

All India Christian Council, All India Confederation of SC/ST, All India Catholic Union and the North East Students United Forum are the four organisations spearheading the centre.

Madhu Chandra, a core member of the centre, said that this initiative has been in the pipeline for some time but with the recent sexual harassment case of a girl in Delhi University’s (DU) north campus area speeded up the entire process.

“We submitted a memorandum to Y. S. Dadwal, Delhi Police Commissioner, with regards to that just days before the case when a girl student was sexually harassed in DU. After that we realised that we had to do something fast,” Chandra told IANS.

“Although the name of the centre is North East Support Centre, we will help anyone in need,” he said.

A victim can access the authority in the centre, through SMS and phone lines, and get immediate help.

“For instance, in Gurgaon, we will station two members to begin with. Suppose a girl is harassed and she doesn’t get help from the police, then we will intervene and do the needful,” Chandra said.

The telephone help line, will function in a similar way. Although the permanent helpline number has not yet been registered, four temporary numbers that will be functional are- 9868184939, 9818314146, 9868157066 and 981055490.

“The last time I visited home in the northeast, some people from Nagaland and Mizoram told me that with the rising number of cases of racial and sexual harassment meted out to the young people of the northeast, I should do something for them as well,” he said.

Support cell, helpline for NE youth in capital
http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=401056&sid=REG&sname=INDIAN-NEWS

New Delhi, Oct 14: For youths and girls from the North-east facing loneliness due to cultural differences in the capital or becoming victims of sexual harassment, a support cell and a telephone helpline is on the anvil.

A group of professionals and activists have come together to launch the 'North-east support centre', which is expected to become operational from October 20.

It will help girls, students and others from the region by providing them with counselling and legal help in fighting discrimination. The group is working for getting necessary authorisation from the government for the centre and the helpline and expects to launch the support centre in a week.

The reach of the support centre will be the national capital region.

The centre aims to help women from the northeast who face sexual harassment at the workplace and on the streets and counsel youths who face loneliness because of cultural differences, madhu chandra, a human rights activist who is one of the members behind the programme said.

"The concept of the centre took shape after our discussions with a large number of youths from northeast in various malls, restaurants, universities and colleges in and around Delhi," Chandra said.

"We were appalled by the continuous reports of sexual harassment and molestation of girls from the northeast and the group thought of starting a host of facilities for them," she said. Bureau Report

Help centre for youth from northeast in DelhiNew Delhi

October 19, 2007 7:05:06 PM ISThttp://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20071019/798515.html

The youth from the northeastern parts of India often get discriminated for their distinct looks and are branded as chinkies, but help is round the corner in the form of Northeast Support Centre to be launched here Saturday.

The support centre will help all victims of sexual and racial harassment in the capital through their group SMS and telephone help line initiatives.

All India Christian Council, All India Confederation of SC/ST, All India Catholic Union and the North East Students United Forum are the four organisations spearheading the centre.

Madhu Chandra, a core member of the centre, said that this initiative has been in the pipeline for some time but with the recent sexual harassment case of a girl in Delhi University's (DU) north campus area speeded up the entire process.

"We submitted a memorandum to Y. S. Dadwal, Delhi Police Commissioner, with regards to that just days before the case when a girl student was sexually harassed in DU. After that we realised that we had to do something fast," Chandra told IANS.

"Although the name of the centre is North East Support Centre, we will help anyone in need," he said.

A victim can access the authority in the centre, through SMS and phone lines, and get immediate help.

"For instance, in Gurgaon, we will station two members to begin with. Suppose a girl is harassed and she doesn't get help from the police, then we will intervene and do the needful," Chandra said.

The telephone help line, will function in a similar way. Although the permanent helpline number has not yet been registered, four temporary numbers that will be functional are- 9868184939, 9818314146, 9868157066 and 981055490.

"The last time I visited home in the northeast, some people from Nagaland and Mizoram told me that with the rising number of cases of racial and sexual harassment meted out to the young people of the northeast, I should do something for them as well," he said on the origin of the idea for such a help group.

Valsom Thampu, principal of Delhi University's St. Stephens college, John Dayal, member of the National Integration Council and Udit Raj, chairman of the All India Confederation of SC/ST will be a part of the launch function.

(IANS)

Helpline for NE students in ND
Source: The Sangai Express

http://www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=12..211007.oct07

New Delhi, October 20: A ‘North East Support Centre and Helpline’ has advocated a joint initiative by social activists, lawyers, student organisations and journalists to extend help when required and take measures to prevent harassment and abuse meted to students and young workers from North East India employed in the National Capital Region.

The official launching of the Support Centre and Helpline held at Press Club of India today was graced by Principal of St Stephen College Rev Valson Thampu, member of National Integration Council Dr John Dayal, Chairman of All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations Dr Udit Raj, secretary general of Press Club of India Pushpendra Kulshrestha and several political and civil dignitaries from the North Eastern States, informed a release.

The need for an NE Support Centre and Helpline has risen because of the phenomenal rise in the number of young people coming to the National Capital and other cities in this region in search of higher education, professional training and employment.

The massive increase in the retail trade and new businesses offer an attractive opportunity to the hard working youth of the now Eight Sisters States.

However, there are several issues that have also arisen, There have been instances of harassment at the work place, in the market place and in public transport systems.

There is need for sensitizing the police and the authorities to these issues.

The victims need immediate assistance, legal aid and counselling.Above all, they need an immediate response.

This is what the Support Centre and Helpline proposes to do with the assistance of volunteers, NGOs and the existing student groups from this region, it added.

Obviously, the Support Centre and Helpline will also respond to emergencies affecting anyone else, including youths and working women from other tribal communities.

A delegation of prominent individuals including from the North East also appraised the matter to officials concerned in the National capital.

Dr John Dayal along with former Member of Parliament from Nagaland S Sangtam and Madhu Chandra, Regional Secretary of All India Christian Council, had a meeting with Delhi Police Commissioner YS Dadwal, IPS on August this year and submitted a memorandum on the harassment of North East people living in Delhi.

SC/ST Confederation chief Dr Udit Raj extended support to North East people and criticised the Delhi police for singling out the Northeast people in Delhi by seeking to define their dress modes and food preferences.

The NE Support Centre and Helpline can be reached at 9868184939, 9818314146, 9868157066 and 9810554901 and can be contacted at nesupportcentre@gmail.com and information will be made available at http://www.nesupportcentre.blogspot.com/.

NE Support Centre and Helpline is supported by All India Christian Council, All India Catholic Union, All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisation, United Christian Action and North East Students’ United Forum, Delhi.

NE support centre and helpline initiated

Saturday, October 20, 2007 (19:54:54)
http://www.headlinesindia.com/national/index.jsp?news_code=60011

New Delhi: Keeping in view the phenomenal rise in the number of young people from the North East India to the Capital and the problem faced by them, a Support Centre and Helpline was initiated on Saturday to cater to their needs. Various zones have been identified in Delhi and National Capital Region like Gurgaon, Central Delhi, Delhi University North Campus where the centre would be established.

The Helpline can be reached at 9868184939,9818314146,9868157066 and 9810554901. Helpline can be contacted at nesupportcentre.blogspot.com and information would be made available at www.nesupoortcentre.blogspot.com. The initiative is supported by All India Christian Council, All India catholic Union, All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations, United Christian Action and North East Students? United Forum Delhi.

Help centre for youth from northeast in Delhi

By sinlung on 20 October, 2007 07:57:15

http://www.sinlung.com/News/North-East/1325.html

New Delhi, Oct 20 : The youth from the northeastern parts of India often get discriminated for their distinct looks and are branded as chinkies, but help is round the corner in the form of Northeast Support Centre to be launched here Saturday.

The support centre will help all victims of sexual and racial harassment in the capital through their group SMS and telephone help line initiatives.

All India Christian Council, All India Confederation of SC/ST, All India Catholic Union and the North East Students United Forum are the four organisations spearheading the centre.

Madhu Chandra, a core member of the centre, said that this initiative has been in the pipeline for some time but with the recent sexual harassment case of a girl in Delhi University's (DU) north campus area speeded up the entire process.

'We submitted a memorandum to Y. S. Dadwal, Delhi Police Commissioner, with regards to that just days before the case when a girl student was sexually harassed in DU. After that we realised that we had to do something fast,' Chandra told IANS.

'Although the name of the centre is North East Support Centre, we will help anyone in need,' he said.

A victim can access the authority in the centre, through SMS and phone lines, and get immediate help.

'For instance, in Gurgaon, we will station two members to begin with. Suppose a girl is harassed and she doesn't get help from the police, then we will intervene and do the needful,' Chandra said.

The telephone help line, will function in a similar way. Although the permanent helpline number has not yet been registered, four temporary numbers that will be functional are- 9868184939 , 9818314146 , 9868157066 and 981055490.

'The last time I visited home in the northeast, some people from Nagaland and Mizoram told me that with the rising number of cases of racial and sexual harassment meted out to the young people of the northeast, I should do something for them as well,' he said on the origin of the idea for such a help group.

Valsom Thampu, principal of Delhi University's St. Stephens college, John Dayal, member of the National Integration Council and Udit Raj, chairman of the All India Confederation of SC/ST will be a part of the launch function.

North East support centre & helpline launched
Student bodies, social activists, politicians join to stop harassment.
http://www.nagalandpost.com/Leisuredesc.asp?sectionid=49476

A North East Support Centre and Helpline has been initiated in a joint initiative by social activists, lawyers, students organizations and journalist to extend help when required and take measures to preventing harassment and abuse meted to students and young workers from North East India employed in the National Capital Region.

The Support Centre and Help-line's official launch out program at the Press Club of India was graced by Rev. Valson Thampu, Principal, St. Stephen College, Dr. John Dayal, Member, National Integration Council, Dr. Udit Raj, Chairman, All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations, Pushpendra Kulshrestha, Secretary General, Press Club of India and several political and civil dignitaries from the North Eastern states.

The need for NE Support Centre & Helpline has arisen because of the phenomenal rise in the number of young people coming to the national Capital and other cities in this region in search of Higher education, Professional Training and Employment. The massive increase in the retail trade and new business offers an attractive opportunity to the hard working youth of the now Eight Sisters states. However, there are several issues that have also arisen. There have been instances of harassment at the work place, in the market place and in public transport systems. There is need for sensitizi1g the Police and the authorities to these issues. The victims need immediate assistance, legal aid and counseling. Above all, they need an immediate response. This is what the Support Centre and Helpline proposes to do with the assistance of volunteers, NGOs and the existing Student groups from this region

Obviously, the Support Centre and Helpline will also respond to emergencies affecting anyone else, includings youth and working women from other Tribal Communities.

Dr. John Dayal along with former Member of Parliament from Nagaland, Sangtam and Madhu Chandra, Regional Secretary of All India Christian Council, had met with Delhi Police Commissioner Y. S. Dadwal, IPS, in August this year and submitted a memorandum on the harassment of North East people living in Delhi.

SC ST Confederation Chief Dr. Udit Raj extended support to North East people and criticized the Police singling out the North east people in Delhi by seeking to define their dress modes and food preferences,

The NE Support Centre and Helpline can be reached at 9868184939, 9818314146, 9868157066, and 9810554901. Helpline can be contacted at nesupportcentre@e:mai1.com and information will be made available at www.nesupportcentre.blogspot.com. We are urging the MTNL and Mobile services to allot distinctive numbers to the Support Centre and Helpline.

NE Support Centre & Helpline is supported by All India Christian Council, All India Catholic Union, All India Confederation of SC/ST organizations, United Christian Action and North east Students' United Forum Delhi

Lansinglu Rongmei
President
Madhu Chandra
Media Secretary
North East Support Center and Helpline, New Delhi

North East Support Centre and Helpline

By sinlung on 16 September, 2007 05:56:24
http://www.sinlung.com/Announcements/936.html

North East Support Centre and Helpline were initiated at a meeting at the New Delhi YMCA on September 5, 2007. It will be launched at a larger meeting of major North East and Tribal groups, perhaps on September 22, 2007. The exact date and venue will be informed later.

The concept of the Centre took shape at encounters that Dr. John Dayal, Member of the National Integration Council, Government of India, National President of the All India Catholic Union [founded 1919] and Secretary General of the All India Christian Council, had with youth, specially young women from the North Eastern States, including Sikkim, in various Malls, Coffee shops and Restaurants and in the major universities and colleges in New Delhi and neighbouring cities. They had many problems, but a major issue was sexual harassment at the workplace and the street, a sense of loneliness and the apathy of the police and other authorities.

A deeper study has shown the vulnerability of a newer generation of youthful workers and students from the North East. The smaller number of youth who came in the Seventies to Nineties were of educated persons coming for Graduate and postgraduate studies and for jobs in senior positions. The new generation of young people includes many who are not even school graduates. They live as paying guests, in informal hostel situations and in far flung areas where they are lonely with no traditional support structure.

Looking at the recent incidents of attempt rape in auto rickshaws and taxis, sexual harassment in Gurgaon Mall and rape in 2005, a need of a support centre and helpline has felt among many of the north easterners.

With this concern, Dr. Dayal along with Mr. Sangtam - Former Congress MP from Nagaland and Rev. Madhu Chandra - Regional Secretary of All India Christian Council and National Secretary of All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations --met Commissioner of the Delhi Police, Mr. YS Dadwal, IPS and briefed him and his officers on the harassment meted out to the north east young men and women.

The initial response to suggestions for a Support Centre has been very positive. SMS messages to Rev. Chandra show the range of support from officials, youngsters and students from north east India, studying and working in Delhi and NCR.

A Preliminary Meeting was called at YMCA Tourist Hostel, New Delhi on September 5, 2007 at 5:30 PM by Dr. John Dayal and Rev Chandra. Mr. Anil Chamadia - Dalit activist and Journalist, Rev. Letlal Haokip, Associate Pastor of Kuki Worship Service, Delhi; Mr. Ambika Hongsha, Secretary Paul Mission India, Ms. Lansinglu Rongmei, Supreme Court Lawyer and Legal Secretary of All India Christian Council, Dr. Achan Mungleng, Coordinator of Euro-Burma Office, Dr. Alana Golme, Analyst of National Commission of Education Research Training, participated.

An Ad hoc committee was setup with Ms. Lansinglu as President, Rev. Letlal as Secretary, Mr. Ambika Hongsha as Treasurer, Rev. Madhu Chandra & Anil Chamadia as Media Secretaries and Dr. John Dayal as a patron tougher with invitee patrons from among Members of Parliament and senior professionals from the North East. The present ad hoc committee with membership open for representation from all north eastern states will function as the core group. They have been authorised to get the North East Support Centre and Help Line registered with the government.The Aims and objectives of North East Support Centre and Helplines include providing proactive assistance to the North East India communities studying, working and living in Delhi and NCR. It will, of course, also help anyone who seeks assistance, particularly young Tribal women from Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.The new initiative was immediately extended full support by All India Catholic Union, United Christian Forum, All India Christian Council and All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations.To meet the immediate need at the time of crisis, new initiative will setup the helpline network in different zonal of Delhi and NCR.North East Support CentreNew DelhiEmail: nesupportcentre@gmail.com http://www.nesupportcentre.blogspot.com/9868184939

Press Release

2007-10-19T23:31:00.000-07:00

North East Support Centre & Helpline launched. Student Bodies, Social Activists, Politicians join to stop Harassment

New Delhi, October 20, 2007

A North East Support Centre and Helpline has been initiated in a joint initiative by social activists, lawyers, student organisations and journalists to extend help when required and take measures to preventing harassment and abuse meted to students and young workers from North East India employed in the National Capital Region.

The Support Centre and Help-line’s official launch out program at the Press Club of India today was graced by Rev. Valson Thampu, Principal, St. Stephen College, Dr. John Dayal, Member, National Integration Council, Dr. Udit Raj, Chairman, All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations, Mr. Pushpendra Kulshrestha, Secretary General, Press Club of India, and several political and civil dignitaries from the North Eastern states.

The need for a NE Support Centre & Helpline has arisen because of the phenomenal rise in the number of young people coming to the national Capital and other cities in this region in search of Higher education, Professional Training and Employment. The massive increase in the retail trade and new businesses offers an attractive opportunity to the hard working youth of the now Eight Sisters states. However, there are several issues that have also arisen. There have been instances of harassment at the work place, in the market place and in public transport systems. There is need for sensitizing the Police and the authorities to these issues. The victims need immediate assistance, legal aid and counseling. Above all, they need an immediate response. This is what the Support Centre and Helpline proposes to do with the assistance of volunteers, NGOs and the existing Student groups from this region.

Obviously, the Support Centre and Helpline will also respond to emergencies affecting anyone else, including youth and working women from other Tribal Communities.

Dr. John Dayal along with former Member of Parliament from Nagaland, Mr. Sangtam and Mr. Madhu Chandra, Regional Secretary of All India Christian Council, had met with Delhi Police Commissioner Mr. Y. S. Dadwal, IPS, in August this year and submitted a memorandum on the harassment of North East people living in Delhi.

SC ST Confederation Chief Dr. Udit Raj extended support to North East people and criticised the Police singling out the North east people in Delhi by seeking to define their dress modes and food preferences.

The NE Support Centre and Helpline can be reached at 9868184939, 9818314146, 9868157066, and 9810554901. Helpline can be contacted at nesupportcentre@gmail.com and information will be made available at www.nesupportcentre.blogspot.com. We are urging the MTNL and Mobile services to allot distinctive numbers to the Support Centre and Helpline.

NE Support Centre & Helpline is supported by All India Christian Council, All India Catholic Union, All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations, United Christian Action and North East Students’ United Forum Delhi.

Sd/-
Ms. Lansinglu Rongmei
President (9818314146)

Sd/-
Mr.Madhu Chandra
Media Secretary (9868184939)

Help centre for youth from northeast in Delhi

2007-10-19T10:07:00.000-07:00

Posted : Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:36:02 GMT
Author : IANS

New Delhi, Oct 19 - The youth from the northeastern parts of India often get discriminated for their distinct looks and are branded as chinkies, but help is round the corner in the form of Northeast Support Centre to be launched here Saturday.

The support centre will help all victims of sexual and racial harassment in the capital through their group SMS and telephone help line initiatives.

All India Christian Council, All India Confederation of SC/ST, All India Catholic Union and the North East Students United Forum are the four organisations spearheading the centre.

Madhu Chandra, a core member of the centre, said that this initiative has been in the pipeline for some time but with the recent sexual harassment case of a girl in Delhi University's (DU) north campus area speeded up the entire process.

'We submitted a memorandum to Y. S. Dadwal, Delhi Police Commissioner, with regards to that just days before the case when a girl student was sexually harassed in DU. After that we realised that we had to do something fast,' Chandra told IANS.

'Although the name of the centre is North East Support Centre, we will help anyone in need,' he said.

A victim can access the authority in the centre, through SMS and phone lines, and get immediate help.

'For instance, in Gurgaon, we will station two members to begin with. Suppose a girl is harassed and she doesn't get help from the police, then we will intervene and do the needful,' Chandra said.

The telephone help line, will function in a similar way. Although the permanent helpline number has not yet been registered, four temporary numbers that will be functional are- 9868184939, 9818314146, 9868157066 and 981055490.

'The last time I visited home in the northeast, some people from Nagaland and Mizoram told me that with the rising number of cases of racial and sexual harassment meted out to the young people of the northeast, I should do something for them as well,' he said on the origin of the idea for such a help group.

Valsom Thampu, principal of Delhi University's St. Stephens college, John Dayal, member of the National Integration Council and Udit Raj, chairman of the All India Confederation of SC/ST will be a part of the launch function.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/127092.html

Links to Harassment meted out to North East Girls

2007-10-17T22:20:00.000-07:00

Links to Harassment meted out to North East Girls

North East
By Surajit KhaundGuwahati, Sep 20 : AIDS problem in North East has taken a serious turn due to increase, ... Delhi University girls protest molestation

Court seeks facts on DU girls’ molestation
Home : News : North East : Court seeks facts on DU girls’ molestation ... Delhi University students protest molestation of NE students

The Telegraph - Calcutta : Metro
Choose Region, Metro, North Bengal, Northeast, Guwahati, Jharkhand ... Teen held for girl molest. A STAFF REPORTER. Pankaj Gupta, 18, was arrested on Monday

Insecuring Cultures- II :: KanglaOnline ~ Your Gateway
If one recalls the year, 2005, when a girl from the North-East was raped in ... is her own reason for being “molested and thrown out of the moving vehicle” ...

2007-09-25T23:08:00.000-07:00

Invitation
You are cordially invited to join us on the occasion to launch the"North East Support Centre & Helpline"

On 20 October 2007,
Press Club, 1, Rasina Road, New Delhi
3.30 –6.30 pm

Special Guests
Rev. Valsom Thampu - Principal, St. Stephen College,
Dr. John Dayal - Member, National Integration Council
Dr. Udit Raj - Chairman, All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations
Mr. Pushpendra Kulshrestha - Secretary General, Press Club of India
Members of Parliament of North East India

Organized by
North East Support Centre & Helpline, New Delhi

Facilitated by
All India Christian Council, All India Catholic Union, United Christian Action, All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations, and North East Student’s United Forum, Delhi

Programme Committee
9818314146 (Lansinglu), 9868157066 (Letlal), 9810554901 (Ambika), 9968291645 (Alana), 9868240809 (Achan), 9868184939 (Madhu), 9310688848 (Silkam) Email: nesupportcentre@gmail.com, www.nesupportcentre.blogspot.com

Aim and Objective of North East Support Centre & Helpline is to extend help and prevent discriminations and harassment to people from North East India and other tribal communities.

Not denied, only delayed

2007-09-19T06:09:00.001-07:00

The Delhi Police register FIR against wannabe cops charged with molestation

Prawesh Lama

New Delhi, September 19, 2007 (Mid Day)

The Mukherjee Nagar police have finally registered an FIR against the candidates for recruiting to the Delhi police who had molested four girls in the Kingsway Camp area. The girls, all of them from the North-East, were on their way to attend a cultural program at the police community hall when the hoodlums, waiting to take their final exam on Sunday, dragged them out of rickshaws and sexually assaulted them.

Scared to go alone

Talking to MiD DAY, one of the victims said, “Yesterday I got a call from the SHO that the police had finally registered an FIR and they wanted us to collect a copy of it. I did not want to go to the police stat alone so I did not go on Monday. However a lady constable from the Mukherjee Nagar police station called me up on Tuesday and told me that she would hand me the FIR. I am glad that they have at least registered a case against those men.”

Serious Hope?

Lucky Mugheto, chairman, North-East Community said, “I am glad that the FIR has been registered now. At least the police will take up the case seriously and arrest the accused.”

On Monday, Mid DAY had reported that four girls who were on their way to attend the North-East cultural festival were molested by the examinees on Saturday.

It’s official now

A senior police officer from the Mukherjee Nagar police station confirmed that the FIR had been registered against the accused. He said, “Yesterday in the evening, we changed their complaint into an FIR. The accused have been booked under section 354 of the Indian Penal Code. We have even told them that we will personally deliver the FIR at their residence if they cannot come here. Though it is difficult to identify the culprit but we are investigating the case from all angles. A lady inspector has been made the investigating officer.”

Not the only case

According to the police officers there were quite a few cases of eve teasing and molestation in the area that day. “The police will now beef up the security in the area. They will keep an eye in the miscreants of that area. We had received order from our officers that the area should be monitored and such incidents should be avoided.

MiD DAY tried to get in touch with Manish Agarwal (DCP (North-West), but he could not be contacted despite repeated attempt as his cell phone was switched off.

College girls ‘molested’

2007-09-17T22:38:00.000-07:00

New Delhi: September 17, 2007 (TOI)

Four DU students, hailing from Manipur, have alleged that some unidentified men molested them on Saturday night while they were going to attend a freshers’s party at North Campus. The students alleged that the accused persons were appearing for recruitment of Delhi Police’s constable at Kingsway Camp.

Police said they have not received any complaints and denied knowledge of any such incident. However, the students, while speaking to Times of India said that they have approached Mukherjee Nagar police station but no action has been taken on their complaint.

A victim said: “When we reached near Kingsway Camp bus stand, some men standing on the road started passing lewd comments and later tried to pull my shirt. When I protested, some other people joined them and all of them started molesting me.”

Another victim said, “I was shocked to see such rude behavior from these men who continued harassing us. Later we managed to get out from the area and informed the plice.”

However, DCP (northwest) Manish Agarwal said: “We have not received any complaint and it any such thing comes to light we will definitely take action.”

North East Support Centre and Helpline

2007-09-15T03:18:00.000-07:00

North East Support Centre and Helpline were initiated at a meeting at the New Delhi YMCA on September 5, 2007. It will be launched at a larger meeting of major North East and Tribal groups, perhaps on September 22, 2007. The exact date and venue will be informed later.

The concept of the Centre took shape at encounters that Dr. John Dayal, Member of the National Integration Council, Government of India, National President of the All India Catholic Union [founded 1919] and Secretary General of the All India Christian Council, had with youth, specially young women from the North Eastern States, including Sikkim, in various Malls, Coffee shops and Restaurants and in the major universities and colleges in New Delhi and neighbouring cities. They had many problems, but a major issue was sexual harassment at the workplace and the street, a sense of loneliness and the apathy of the police and other authorities.

A deeper study has shown the vulnerability of a newer generation of youthful workers and students from the North East. The smaller number of youth who came in the Seventies to Nineties were of educated persons coming for Graduate and postgraduate studies and for jobs in senior positions. The new generation of young people includes many who are not even school graduates. They live as paying guests, in informal hostel situations and in far flung areas where they are lonely with no traditional support structure.

Looking at the recent incidents of attempt rape in auto rickshaws and taxis, sexual harassment in Gurgaon Mall and rape in 2005, a need of a support centre and helpline has felt among many of the north easterners.

With this concern, Dr. Dayal along with Mr. Sangtam - Former Congress MP from Nagaland and Rev. Madhu Chandra - Regional Secretary of All India Christian Council and National Secretary of All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations --met Commissioner of the Delhi Police, Mr. YS Dadwal, IPS and briefed him and his officers on the harassment meted out to the north east young men and women

The initial response to suggestions for a Support Centre has been very positive. SMS messages to Rev. Chandra show the range of support from officials, youngsters and students from north east India, studying and working in Delhi and NCR.

A Preliminary Meeting was called at YMCA Tourist Hostel, New Delhi on September 5, 2007 at 5:30 PM by Dr. John Dayal and Rev Chandra. Mr. Anil Chamadia - Dalit activist and Journalist, Rev. Letlal Haokip, Associate Pastor of Kuki Worship Service, Delhi; Mr. Ambika Hongsha, Secretary Paul Mission India, Ms. Lansinglu Rongmei, Supreme Court Lawyer and Legal Secretary of All India Christian Council, Dr. Achan Mungleng - Independent Researcher & Activist, Dr. Alana Golme participated.

An Ad hoc committee was setup with Ms. Lansinglu as President, Rev. Letlal as Secretary, Mr. Ambika Hongsha as Treasurer, Rev. Madhu Chandra & Anil Chamadia as Media Secretaries and Dr. John Dayal as a patron tougher with invitee patrons from among Members of Parliament and senior professionals from the North East. The present ad hoc committee with membership open for representation from all north eastern states will function as the core group. They have been authorised to get the North East Support Centre and Help Line registered with the government.

The Aims and objectives of North East Support Centre and Helplines include providing proactive assistance to the North East India communities studying, working and living in Delhi and NCR. It will, of course, also help anyone who seeks assistance, particularly young Tribal women from Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

The new initiative was immediately extended full support by All India Catholic Union, United Christian Forum, All India Christian Council and All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations.

To meet the immediate need at the time of crisis, new initiative will setup the helpline network in different zonal of Delhi and NCR.

North East Support Centre
New Delhi
Email: nesupportcentre@gmail.com
http://www.nesupportcentre.blogspot.com/
9868184939

North East Support Centre First Initial Sitting

2007-09-06T00:43:00.000-07:00

The first meet for setting up of North East Support Centre was held on the 5th of September, 2007 at YMCA, New Delhi.

It was decided in the meeting that the following persons be nominated as core committee members for the NE Support Centre. Membership for core committee is open for more to be added.

Dr. John Dayal – Member of National Integration Council (GOI), President of All India Catholic Union, General Secretary of All India Christian Council and President of United Christian Forum, Delhi.
Rev. M. Madhu Chandra – Regional Secretary of All India Christian Council and National Secretary of All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations.
Rev. Letlal Haokip – Associate Pastor of Kuki Worship Service, Delhi
Mr.Ambika Hongsha – Secretary of Paul Mission India, New Delhi
Mr. Anil Chamadia – Dalit Activist and Jounalist, New Delhi
Ms. Lansinglu Rongmei – Supreme Court Lawyer and Legal Secretary of All India Christian Council

Dr. Alana Golmei

The Ad hoc committee members constituted with membership is open for more to be added.

1. President : Ms Lansinglu Rongmei
2. Secretary : Mr. Letlal Haokip
3. Treasurer : Mr. Ambika Hongsha
4. Media : Mr. Madhu Chandra & Mr. Anil Chamadia
5. Patron : Dr. John Dayal
6. Patron : Anil Chamadia

As per the discussion the members decided to have the next meeting with a larger group (representatives from the 8 states of the region) on 22 September, 2007 at Nagaland House.

Venue to be confirmed

Notes taken by Dr. Alana Golmei