M.P. Bezbaruah Committee and it’s Recommendations

The M.P. Bezbaruah Committee was a special committee formed to look into the issues of people from the North East India living in different parts of India, specially in metros like Delhi, and to suggest remedial measures. It was set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs after the tragic death of Nido Tania, a 20 year old student from Arunachal Pradesh, in a racial altercation in Delhi on January 29, 2014. The committee was formed under the Chairmanship of Shri M.P. Bezbaruah, IAS (Retired). The committee was notified on February 5, 2014. It submitted its report with several important recommendations to Ministry of Home Affairs on July 11, 2014.

Structure of M.P. Bezbaruah Committee:

Chairman: M.P. Bezbaruah, IAS (Retd)
Members: Shri Alemtemshi Jamir, IAS (Retd.), Shri P. Bharat Singh, IAS (Retd.), Shri Tape Bagra, IAS (Retd.), Shri H.W.T. Syeim, IAS (Retd.), Dr. H. T. Sangliana, Sri D. M. Jamatia, Dr. (Ms.) Doma Bhutia, Shri J. Maivio, Shri J. T. Tagam, Representative of North East India Forum against Racism, Representative of North East Helpline (Special invitee) and Shri Robin Hibu, IPS, Joint Commissioner of Police, Delhi (Representative of Ministry of Home Affairs)
Member secretary: Shri S. Saha, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs

Objectives of the Committee:

• To examine the various concerns, regarding security of the persons hailing from North Easter India.
• To examine the causes behind the attacks or violence and discrimination against the people from North East.
• To suggest measures to be taken by the Government to address these concerns.
• To suggest legal remedies to address concerns including legal aspect of the issues.

The Committee interacted with more than 800 individuals from different organizations of North East, Ministries/Departments, Senior Govt Officials of six states, Delhi Police, Police of other states, MPs from North East, Academicians, lawyers, Doctors, Resident welfare associations, NGOs. The committee also studied various studies related to the problems and concerns of North-eastern people.

The committee pointed out several problems or concerns of people from North East India. For example: sense of insecurity and vulnerability in metro areas, wrong perception of local people about lifestyle of people from North East, discrimination in daily life, sexual harassment, mistaken as foreigners at tourist places, verbal abuse and racial comments, discrimination and harassment at work, physical assault, discrimination and apathy of law enforcing agencies etc.

M.P. Bezbaruah Committee Recommendations

The committee made several recommendations to bridge the gap in understanding to integrate the people of North East India into the broader national identity of India and to build connectivity of minds. The recommendations can be categorised into four broad groups:
1. Creating awareness about the North-East
2. Quick, strong and fair action by law enforcing agencies.
3. Institutional guidance, help, information, counselling and orientation.
4. Legal or legislative measures to the support the efforts.

Key recommendations:

1. New or strict law: Committee recommended that either a new law should be promulgated to take care of the incidents of racial nature or the Section 153 of IPC should be amended. In any case, the offence should be cognizable and non-bailable. The FIR should be completed within 60 days by a Special Squad. Special prosecutor should be appointed to handle such cases. Trail should be completed in 90 days.

Amendment of IPC would insert following “Word, gesture or act intended to insult a member of a particular racial group or of any race”. That means, any word, gesture or act intended to insult any member of a particular or any race for whatever reason or for reason of their place of origin, racial features, behaviour pattern, customs, dresses shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years with find.

2. Facilities for legal assistance: Panel of lawyers for legal assistance and consultation through mobile phone, email etc. NE lawyers would be given preference and 50% members of the panel may be women. Legal awareness training for NE representatives, legal awareness campaign in vulnerable areas. Lecture on legal rights during freshers meet at major universities. Dissemination of information on legal rights to NE youths. Pro-active initiative for victim compensation and monetary assistance.

3. Strengthening Law Enforcement Agencies: Sensitization and training of the police personnel, minimizing delays in investigation, improving quality of investigation, recruiting sufficient number of persons from SC/ST/minorities as police personnel etc.

4. Special Police initiatives: Creation of fast track courts, North East Special Police Unit should have the power of a police station, creation of special squad supervised by the North East Special Police Unit, specially designated public prosecutors for cases involving people from North East. Special helpline for North East Youths 1093 to be synchronised with PCR 100 number. Data bank of all crimes against North East people.

5. Educating people about North East: Educating future generations on the history and culture of North East by inserting suitable text in the text books. NCERT should introduce certain aspects of the “Northeast ethos” into the curriculum. Teachers training institutes would make their syllabus to sensitize their trainees on the NE India.

6. Creating awareness: Prime coverage to NE in media facilities under Information & Broadcasting ministry. Resources of NE as visible faces in the visual media. Media should be careful while covering racial cases. Wide publicity to sport schemes for north east. indigenous games of NE to be promoted. Promoting tourism as a means of creating awareness and understanding.

Though the recommendations and observations often mentions Delhi, such recommendations should be applicable to other areas of the country as well.