Lok Sabha Question No. 5434 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-05
Subject: Bezbaruah Committee Recommendations
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Pradyut Bordoloi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5434

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 05 TH  APRIL, 2022/CHAITRA 15,1944 (SAKA)

BEZBARUAH COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

5434.  SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the status of implementation of the Bezbaruah Committee recommendations  submitted  in  2014  and  the  details  of  recommendations which have been implemented and those which are pending for implementation;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  any  measures  to  prevent  and protect  people  from  the  North  East  facing  racial  attacks,  especially  during the COVID pandemic and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether there has been any initiative to provide special provisions for the safety  of  Northeastern  students  facing  racial  discrimination  on  and  offcampus in universities in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether  there  have  been  any  initiatives  for  the  inclusion  of  crucial knowledge  and  information about cultural, geographical and historical features of the North East in national school curricula to improve awareness and  foster  understanding  among  students  from  all  backgrounds  about  the regions; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a): The status of implementation of Bezbaruah Committee recommendations is at Annexure 'A'.

(b): Government  of  India  has  issued  advisories/instructions  to  the  State  / Union  Territory  (UT)  Governments, including  that  issued  during  COVID pandemic, regarding action plan for providing security to people from North East, appointment of Nodal Officers in States / UTs to address the grievances of people from North East and sensitization of enforcement agencies to take appropriate  action  in  any  case  of  harassment.  A  three  member  Monitoring Committee has been set up by Ministry of Home Affairs with two members belonging  to  North  East  Region  for  monitoring  of  issues  and  redressal  of grievances relating to racial discrimination faced by people from North East residing in different parts of the country.

(c): University  Grants  Commission  has  issued  communication  to  all  the Universities regarding inclusion of History and Unique Culture heritage of the North East in curriculum of courses in Higher Education system to promote welfare of students from North East Region, introduction of Special Scholarship  Scheme  for  North  East  region  and  issued  regulations  namely, University Grants Commission (Redress of Grievance of Students) Regulations 2019, UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations 2012 and UGC Guidelines for Students' Entitlement, wherein there is a provision against racial discrimination. Ministry of Home Affairs  has  asked  all  State/UT  Govts  to  designate  nodal  officers  in  various districts for interactions with students / residents from North East states and to address their concerns, if any.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 5434 FOR 05.04.2022

(d) to (e): The  content  about  geography,  history  and  culture  of  North  East region  has  been  included  in  the  NCERT  textbooks  of  Social  Sciences  from Classes  VI  to  XII  to  promote  awareness  among  students  across  India. Moreover, a process of formulation of curriculum has been taken up in order to  capture  rich  diversity  of  all  regions  of  the  country,  including  North  East region.

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- (I) Implemented Bezbaruah Committee recommendations
- 1) Empanelment  of  Advocates  by  Delhi  State  Legal  Service  Authority (DSLSA) to extend facility for legal assistance to the needy people of North East Region.
- 2) Setting  up  of  Special  Police  Unit  for  North  East  Region  (SPUNER)  & nominating a Nodal Officer of the rank of Special/Addl. CP in Delhi.
- 3) Recruitment of personnel from North Eastern states in Delhi Police.
- 4) A special help line number (1093) for NE youths.
- 5) Sensitization  Programme  for  all  ranks  of  Delhi  Police  on  NE  related issues during basic and promotional Courses.
- 6) Awareness cum sensitization programs for NE students by SPUNER in collaboration with North East Cells of colleges in Delhi University.
- 7) Conduct of special programme for teaching Hindi language in Mizoram and Nagaland to address language and communication difficulties.
- 8) Utilization  of  the  bonding  power  of  sports  by  organizing  national  / international games in the NE region.
- 9) Selection  of  athletes  /  players  from  North  East  Region  under  Khelo India Scheme for talent identification & development.
- 10) Establishment of Centre of Excellence for sports at Imphal (Manipur), Guwahati (Assam) and Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh).
- 11) Setting up of National Sports University campus in Imphal (Manipur).
- Educating the people about North East through School / College level
- 12) interactions / exchange of students programs.
- 13) Revision of syllabus by including the contents about various aspects of North East Region in the current NCERT books.
- 14) Provision  of  scholarship  to  youths  of  North  Eastern  states  under Udaan Scheme / Ishan Uday Scheme.
- 15) Conduct of session on pedagogy of social sciences on NE states along with  generic  issues  for  NCERT  faculty  members  under  National Initiative for School  Heads  and  Teachers  Holistic  Advancement (NISHTHA).
- 16) Focus  on  North  East  by  launching  of  dedicated  Doordarshan  /  AIR  / community Radio channels.
- 17) Enhancement of the role of NE States' Bhawans to provide assistance to  NE  people  by  designation  of  nodal  officer  for  assistance  to  NE students.
- 18) Setting up of grievance cell at Meghalaya House, New Delhi, Vellore and Kolkata.
- 19) Opening of Jasola Hostel for NE students to address the problem of accommodation / rent.
- 20) Promotion of tourism in NE states by organizing International Travel Mart (ITM) in NE region.

- 21) Dedicating a section for North East in the website www.incredibleindia.org for focused promotion of North East.
- 22) Promotion of North east culture by organizing programme 'DESTINATION NORTH EAST' through North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), Dimapur at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
- 23) The  land  for  culture  and  information  centre  (now  renamed  as  North East Council Convention Centre) at Sector 13 Dwarka, New Delhi has been allotted and order has been issued for construction.
- 24) A plot has been taken from DDA to construct a hostel at Rohini , Delhi.
5. (II) Regarding    other  recommendations  of  Bezbaruah  Committee  w.r.t safety and other concerns  of people from North East, various stakeholders have been asked to take necessary action and Ministry of Home Affairs monitors this regularly.

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