Lok Sabha Question No. 3427 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-06
Subject: Racial Attacks
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: SATYA PAL SINGH, RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE, BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB, SANJAY SHAMRAO DHOTRE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3427

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 TH  DECEMBER, 2016/ AGRAHAYANA 15, 1938 (SAKA)

RACIAL ATTACKS

3427.

DR. SATYAPAL SINGH:

SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE:

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  incidents  of  racial  discrimination/attacks  have  increased  in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the total number of such cases reported during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
- (c) the mechanism put in place by the Government to monitor/curb such cases and to provide adequate relief to victims of such incidents in the country;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  constituted  any  Committee  to  suggest remedial measures for racial discrimination/ attacks in the country and if so, the details thereof and the recommendations made by the Committee along with the reaction of the Government in this regard; and
- (e) the other steps taken by the Government to prevent racial discrimination/attacks  and  to  ensure  adequate  relief  to  victims  of  such discrimination/attacks in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a)and (b)  'Public  Order'  and  'Police'  being  State  subjects  as  per  the provisions of the Constitution of India, the responsibilities of maintaining law  and  order,  investigation  and prosecution of crime, (including on the

## L.S.US.Q.NO.3427 FOR 06.12.2016

basis of racial discrimination/attacks), providing relief and rehabilitation, maintaining  relevant  data  etc.  rest  primarily  with  the  respective  State Governments/Union  Territory  Administrations.  The  information  is  not centrally maintained.

(c) to (e)   There are adequate provisions of laws to deal with the cases of  discrimination  on  the  basis  of  race,  ethnicity,  language  or  religion. Advisories have been issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs to all State Governments and Union Territories in this regard. The State Governments and  Union  Territories  are  taking  all  necessary  security  measures  to strictly follow the directions given in the advisories. In addition, measures have been taken by the Ministry of Home  Affairs for strengthening  facilities  for  legal  assistance,  extending  facilities  in  the field of sport, educating the people about the North East in various forms, focusing  attention  on  the  North  East  on  media,  providing  of  helpline numbers,  appointment  of  Nodal  Officers  to  address  the  grievances  of North Eastern people, etc.

In order to deal with the security concerns of the people hailing from the North Eastern States living in different parts of the country, especially

in the Metropolitan cities, a Committee had been constituted in February, 2014  under  the  Chairmanship  of  Shri  M.P.  Bezbaruah,  Member,  North Eastern  Council  and  other  members.    The  Committee  was  tasked  to examine  reasons  of  attacks  on  people  of  Northeast  and  to  suggest suitable  remedial  measures  which  could  be  taken  by  the  Government. The  Committee  submitted  its  report  in  July  2014  and  the  same  is available  on  MHA  website.    Recommendations  made  by  the  Committee mainly comprise legal measures, special police initiatives for safety and security of  North  Eastern people living in Delhi, NCR and other parts of the country, educating people about the North East and addressing their grievances including that of lack of accommodation etc.

The  recommendations  made  by  the  Committee  with  regard  to immediate measures have been accepted and action has been taken to implement  the  same.    Implementation  status  of  the  recommendations made by the Committee is being reviewed periodically and the last review meeting was held on 12.5.2016 in the Ministry of Home Affairs.

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