I am Shakti: History, mythology integrates us but geography puts us on the periphery, denounce speakers from the North East
At the Mail Today-P C Jewellers' "I Am Shakti" Women Safety Summit, what came out was the sheer lack of ignorance that the people from the North East has been at the receiving end of, by the remaining population in Delhi as well as other states - a sentiment that was shared by politicians, senior police officials, activists and victims, alike.
On a day when a 24-year-old woman from Mizoram was murdered at her flat in south Delhi's Munirka, eminent speakers and residents from the North East wove together anecdotes and antidotes to a problem that has gripped the Capital, leaving that segment of the population vulnerable and defenceless. However, the unanimous line that echoed post-session was - "Don't segregate, integrate."
At the Mail Today-P C Jewellers' "I Am Shakti" Women Safety Summit, what came out was the sheer lack of ignorance that the people from the North East has been at the receiving end of, by the remaining population in Delhi as well as other states - a sentiment that was shared by politicians, senior police officials, activists and victims, alike.
Former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma said, "When I came to Delhi, I realised that people are uninformed and ignorant about north-eastern states. People confused our identities simply because they thought we looked alike. In one such instance, the then Home Minister in 1977 asked me which border area I was from - Nepal or China.".
Sangma stated that there were myriad emotions behind the unfair targeting of the people from the North-East. "Very subtly, North-eastern people are being targeted. It could be because of jealousy because people from the North East come here in search of jobs and education, it could be because it is a way of life of it could be because there is a huge cultural gap. But there needs to be a solution to this," he added.
"Is this really the idea of India that we dreamt of? There are stereotypes like "chinky eyes" that need to be done away with. When I speak to the elite of Delhi also, I find them unaware and ill-informed. about this issue. It makes me angry to see what is happening around us," said MP Bezbaruah, former tourism Secretary and now Member, North Eastern Council.
"History and mythology had integrated us with the rest of the country, but geography has put us on the periphery," he said.
Robin Hibu, Dehi Police JCP (Crime against Women Cell), said that as a means to combat the ill-treatment being meted out to the northeastern people, especially women, police had trained people who would act as contact persons for those in trouble.
The programme began with Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi speaking about violence against women. The discussion was carried forward by BJP Lok Sabha MP Poonam Mahajan.
Kanwaljeet Deol, DG, NHRC and Sundari Nanda, Special Commissioner, Vigilance and Operations, Delhi Police, shared their experiences and highlighted the change that the police force had undergone over the years.
Social activist Kiran Bedi spoke on, "Today's mantra for women safety, the role/scope of sports as part of the Female Upbringing."
The day-long programme ended with BJP MP Meenkshi Lekhi who talked about educating women early against social and sexual abuse.