Safety Measures For People From Northeast in Delhi

New Delhi, Jun 12 : As measures against racial and criminal attacks in India’s notorious capital, Delhi, the North East Support Centre & Helpline (NESCH) today issued a statement listing safety measures to all North Eastern regions peoples who come to Delhi.

‘Safety is the biggest concern for north easterners in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR).

The now regular panic in north east region’s peoples in the capital spread again with the news of an unidentified boy, whose feature looks like a north easterner found dead near India Gate on June 9 morning,’ stated a note from the centre today.

Listing out the measures, the centre has asked all newcomers to Delhi to be aware first-hand that Delhi is most unsafe for women and particularly north easterners.

All newcomers must ensure that mature and experienced persons accompany all new comers when travelling to Delhi and NCR. They must ensure mature and experienced persons to pick them up from airports or railway stations, the centre advised. “Take your own conveyance wherever possible otherwise take pre-paid taxi run by Delhi Police, which are available inside arrival of Terminal-1 and Terminal-3.

Avoid taking standby auto rickshaws and taxis,” the NESCH strongly advised.

The center said most of the trains coming from North East India ‘are terminated’ at Anand Vihar Railway Station, which is after Ghaziabad, UP. “Taxi booking counter will give you two tickets, one for taxi driver and one for you. Do not forget to keep your copy with you. As soon as you are allotted your taxi, do not forget to note down the taxi number and inform your parents back at home and your host in Delhi and NCR, if possible by an SMS,” the centre advised.

“During your stay in Delhi and NCR, become a part of your student bodies, community welfare associations and your church groups. Manipur and Nagaland House have started registration of newcomers in Delhi. Kindly contact your state house to get more information on safety measurement.” Another advice the centre gave was that cultural integration is important. “Attempt for social and cultural integration,” the NESCH reminded.

In addition, one must always note Delhi Police helpline numbers. “In case of any emergency, you can ring up Delhi Police Helpline – 100, Delhi Police Women Helpline – 9091.” The North East Support Centre & Helpline is happy to extend help to NE people during their stay in Delhi. The NE Helpline number is 011-25084561, 9871510491, 9716004939, and 9810554901.

The centre also reminded that taxi and auto drivers target newcomers to loot and harass with extra charges. “Over 10,000 new students from North Eastern states come to Delhi annually for admission in various colleges. Most of them carry good amount of money for their college admission and renting houses etc. The perpetrators target these new comers with extra charges and in many occasions the perpetrators loots them,” says Madhu Chandra of the NESCH.

The Press Release:
North East Support Centre & Helpline
RZ 61, 4^th Floor, Palam Vihar, Dwarka, New Delhi 110075. Tel 25084561
The safety is top most concern for North Easterners in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR). Panic of racial attack spreads across North East region with the news of unidentified boy, whose feature looks like a North Easterner found dead near India Gate on June 9 morning. North East Support Centre & Helpline appeals safety concern for North East communities and issues safety guideline for new comers in Delhi and NCR.
Whole North East communities living in Delhi and NCR are socked once again and worried about their safety in National Capital cities as racial attack on communities continues unabated. An unidentified young man is found dead near India Gate, the body kept in Ram Lohia Manohar Hospital Mortuary, whose photograph also put up at Nagaland House by Naga Students Union, Delhi for public identification.
The safety concern for North Easterners has been expressed by various public figures. Dr. Thokchom Meinya, Honorable Member of Parliament from Manipur has also visited R. L. M. Hospital today and expressed deep concern of safety for North East communities in National Capital.
Another man belonging to Vaiphei community from Manipur, working in a BPO company in Gurgaon has also been reported missing from Delhi. He went to Inter State Bus Terminal (ISBT) to catch a bus for Gourakhpur, Uttar Pradesh to visit his cousins on May 21, 2011. His luggage was found by Delhi police and informed his relative through telephone number collected from a dairy found inside the luggage.
Madhu Chandra, Founder Director and Spokesperson of North East Support Centre & Helpline said, “Delhi has reached utmost concern for safety for North Easterners. Delhi police and Government once again need to come up with concrete policy and plan of action to tackle the challenges.” “Manipur Government, in particular, must take up the matter with Central Government about the safety for the communities as most of the victims of racial attack and sexual violence faced are from Manipur state,” say Madhu Chandra.
Taxi and auto drivers target new comers to loot and harass with extra charges. “Over 10,000 new students from North Eastern states come to Delhi annually for admission in various colleges. Most of them carry good amount of money for their college admission and renting houses etc. The perpetrators target these new comers with extra charges and in many occasions the perpetrators loots them,” says Madhu Chandra
North East Support Centre & Helpline issues Safety Guidelines for New Comers in Delhi.
1. All new comers to Delhi must know that Delhi has become most unsafe for women and particularly North Easterners.
2. Ensure mature and experience persons to accompany new comers while travelling to Delhi and NCR.
3. Ensure mature and experience persons to pick up from Airport or Railway stations. Take your own convene wherever possible otherwise take Pre-paid taxi run by Delhi Police, which are available inside arrival of Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. AVOID taking standby Auto Rickshaws and Taxis.
4. Most of the trains coming from North East India are terminated at Anand Vihar Railway Station, which is after Ghaziabad, UP.
5. Taxi booking counter will give you two tickets, one for Taxi driver and one for you. Do not forget to keep your copy with you.
6. As soon as you are allotted your taxi, do not forget to note down the Taxi Number and inform your parents back at home and your host in Delhi and NCR, if possible by an SMS.
7. During your stay in Delhi and NCR, become a part of your student bodies, community welfare associations and your church groups.
8. Manipur and Nagaland House have started registration of new comers in Delhi. Kindly contact your state house to get more information on safety measurement.
9. Cultural Integration is important part of Indian society. Attempt for social and cultural integration.
10. Please Note Delhi Police Helpline Numbers. In case of any emergency, you can ring up. Delhi Police Helpline – 100, Delhi Police Women Helpline – 9091.
11. North East Support Centre & Helpline will be delighted to extend help for your safety concern during your stay in Delhi. NE Helpline No. 011-25084561, 9871510491, 9716004939, 9810554901.
North East Support Centre & Helpline (www.nehelpline.net) is combined initiative of various human rights activists, social workers, students, journalists and lawyers seeking to prevent harassment and abuses meted out to women, North East People and tribal communities of different states.
Released by
Angam Haokip
Media In-charge

For more information, please contact
Madhu Chandra,
Spokespersons – 9716004939
New Delhi, June 11, 2011