Justice for Loitam Richard evinces Home Ministry with suggestions to do away with hate crime in India
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 18 2012:
With a stated goal to push 'hate' out of Indian communities, the Office of Justice for Loitam Richard has submitted a representation incorporating various means and measures to tackle hate crime in India to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Among others, the memorandum suggested to examine the legislative and administrative measures that are in place and the efficacy in practice and specific inadequacies to address the problems of violence and other forms of abuses faced by students, employees, job seekers and tourists from the NE residing in or visiting other parts of the country.
It recommended specific investigative and punitive steps under the existing law by an independent agency for the present and past cases of crime including murder, assault, sexual abuse, rape, abuse or discrimination in institutions and work places committed against students, employees, job seekers and tourists from the NE region while also recommending concrete steps to be taken by the ruling Central and State Governments to strengthen security measures to protect and promote the safety and personal security of the NE people.
The representation also argued for the need to review the existing curricula of schools, colleges, higher institutions and technical institutions, universities including special institutions to train police and armed forces personnel in India with special attention to the inclusion of subjects about the history, culture and present situation of the NE communities.
In order to sensitise the students and employees of the country, a monthly induction programme on inter-racial and ethnic issues be mandatory for them on those important issues.
The representation also suggested to initiate workshops/symposiums on racial discrimination in India in every state for public to reinforce that racism won't be tolerated at all.
Further, it suggested to make mandatory policies for the media to circulate advertisements, documentaries and films that reflect the multi-cultural and multiracial composition of India with an aim to acknowledge the issues faced by the NE communities and implement means to influence people's perception positively towards NE people and to avoid stereotyping and prejudice.
The memo also suggested mandatory policies for theatre/cinema halls to screen short documentaries to reflect multi-cultural and multi-racial composition of India before screening main movies.
It further suggested making mandatory policies for Outdoor Media to acknowledge and reflect NE India, to include political leaders, actors, dignitaries, et al as part of the mandatory multi-disciplinary team in the fight against hate crime and to conduct informed campaign to improve the effectiveness of the goal to tackle racism.
Stating that there is serious concerns of the mechanically superimposed Indian National Anthem which fails to reflect anything at all about the vast and vibrant NE, the memo suggested discussion on parliamentary level regarding the issue.
Stressing on the need to have stringent law so as to hold racial stereotyping and prejudice accountable and judicially restraint, it suggested the passing of law against racism against any incitement to discrimination and all forms of discrimination in the Parliament to prove that racism is not tolerated in India.
Setting up of special police cell with both male and female officers from North Eeast for security of the NE people; opening of legal cell with both male and female officers from NE in all states for judicial protection; exchange programmes and social clubs at school, college, university and other social networking levels; and setting up of adequate number of guest houses at subsidised and affordable rate for the NE people in the prime locations in all the States with comfortable accommodation facilities and security which would be managed and run by the staff from the NE are other means and measures included in the representation.
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