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 Centre
New Delhi
Email: nesupportcentre@gmail.com
www.nesupportcentre.blogspot.com
9868184939
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 Centre
New Delhi
Email: nesupportcentre@gmail.com
www.nesupportcentre.blogspot.com
9868184939
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