North-East migrants denied homes on grounds of food habits and culture
With over 690 cases of harassment against North-East(NE) migrants in Bengaluru the IT capital, the city's cosmopolitan culture is at stake.
FollowWith over 690 cases of harassment against North-East(NE) migrants in Bengaluru the IT capital, the city's cosmopolitan culture is at stake. The migrants go through several hurdles on a daily basis such as non-payment of salaries, physical attacks, sexual assault and human trafficking which are only increasing, after which they are denied homes too.
The migrants are asked if they eat pork, beef or dog meat, and asked about their personal life relationships too, while looking for homes to rent.
Dr Rini Ralte, president of North East solidarity, a forum that helps NE migrants, made a shocking revelation that an NE migrant was denied a house for rent at 16 places over the issue of food habits. "The people here have the biased feeling against NE people. The people are against ethnicity. The girls belonging to NE community are very vulnerable. In many cases, the victim when faced with sexual exploitation and also harassment, do not file any complaint and just want to avoid any legal action as they fear it will get dragged," she said.
According to reports from NE solidarity, over 690 cases have been registered since 2012 and the help from State government in terms of co-ordination, to help the victims get benefits and justice is very less.
However, a senior police official denied any such claims and expressed that the police always help with issues faced by NE migrants, an exhibit being, the non-payment of salary cases, which have been solved to a great extent. "The police recently rescued few girls from Bengaluru South Division. On the pretext of offering the job to them at massage parlours, girls were lured into immoral activity. The owners have been arrested and the girls are rescued," said a senior police officer from Basavangudi Police Station.
The officer also claimed that the issue regarding denial of homes to NE migrants have not come to their knowledge yet but are ready to initiate action if anyone files a complaint.
