New Delhi: A committee which was constituted to look into the concerns of persons hailing from the North Eastern states will submit its report next month suggesting remedies and if necessary recommend change of laws for their protection.
The committee under the chairmanship of former Union Tourism Secretary M P Bezbaruah, called on the Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, who reviewed the progress made by it after its constitution on February 6.
“We have briefed the Minister about the progress that we have made so far. We will submit our report in the first week of July in which we will suggest various remedies to allay the concerns of the people from the Northeast,” Bezbaruah told reporters after the hour-long meeting.
Asked whether the Committee would suggest enactment of any law to stop the alleged racial discrimination against the people from the Northeast, the former IAS officer said it was one of the issues that the committee was deliberating. “If necessary we will suggest framing of new law or amendment to the existing laws,” he said.
Bezbaruah said the Delhi Police has conveyed that it has been sensitising its personnel about the life, customs and the problems being faced by the people from the Northeast. “The Delhi Police also said that it has been adopting the policy of zero tolerance towards non registration of FIR in any case of atrocity against people from Northeast,” he said.
Minister Rijiju said he reviewed the progress of the committee’s work and sought an interim report. “Police and state governments need to act. Our Prime Minister has also said no such crime should take place anywhere,” he said.
The committee is looking into various concerns of persons hailing from the North Eastern states who are living in different parts of the country, especially metropolitan cities, and will suggest suitable remedial measures which could be taken by the government.
The committee is holding a series of meetings beginning on Monday at Nagaland House here.
The committee will have interaction with the students, professionals and various persons from the North Eastern states living in Delhi, NGOs, students organisations and other associations for seeking their suggestions in this regard.
Suggestions can also be sent by e-mail at [email protected] and also by post to S Saha, Member Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Room No 172-C, North Block, New Delhi – 110001.
The terms of Reference of the committee are as follows:- (i)To examine the various kinds of concerns, including the concerns regarding security, of the persons hailing from the North Eastern States. (ii) To examine the causes behind the attacks/violence and discrimination against the people from the North-Eastern States. (iii) To suggest measures to be taken by the Government to address these concerns. (iv) To suggest legal remedies to address these concerns. (PTI)
