Seminar deliberates NE people's woes
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 31, 2011:
Various challenges and threats being faced by the people of North East in mega cities were minutely deliberated in a seminar held at Adimjati SC/ST Boys Hostel today.
The seminar jointly organised by All India Christian Council and North East Support Centre marked the closing of a series of seminars conducted on the similar topic in different locations of the North East region.
National Secretary of Public Affairs of All India Christian Council, Dr Sam Paul while speaking at the seminar made detail account of the Fundamental Rights enshrined in the Constitution and menace of human trafficking.
According to him, human trafficking is the biggest crime next to drug and arm trafficking.
Maintaining that human trafficking agents target areas affected by communal violence and socio-political crisis, Sam Paul cautioned that human traffickers may lure away youth from the region with false promise of lucrative jobs and free education in big cities.
Speaking at the seminar, Spokesperson of NE Support Centre and Helpline, Madhu Chandra said that many youths from the North East have migrated to mega cities in search of job and better eduction due to the prevailing unrest in the region.
The challenges of racial discrimination and sexual violence meted out to the North East people in big cities have been a National debate and concern after Dhaula Kuan rape case occurred on the midnight of November 23, 2010, he said.
The Governments of NE region must take proactive role in controlling such challenges by exerting pressure to the Delhi Government and the Centre, he observed.
Speaking on the roles of civil society bodies, Coordinator of Peace Education, Dr Leban Serto said that civil society bodies, NGOs and religious groups must collectively raise voice against the menace.
He informed the gathering that NE people living and studying in Delhi and NCR have become easy targets for racial attack and sexual violence.
They are even discriminated at the time of lodging complaints at police stations, he added.
Dr Leban Serto added that majority of the victims are from Manipur and the Chief Minister of the State must take serious note in this regard.
He also appealed all the religious bodies and civil society bodies of the State to get involved in addressing the challenges of human trafficking.
Similar seminars were organised in Dimapur on January 28 and Kakching on January 30.The seminar was hosted by Dimapur Baptist Pastors Fellowship in Dimapur and All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisation at Kakching.
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