As many as 54 per cent people from the northeast feel that discrimination is a reality in the national capital while 74 per cent felt that Delhi is the ‘most unsafe’ place in terms of ethnic discrimination, a survey report has revealed.
The survey, which was conducted to understand the perception regarding discrimination against people from Northeast India residing in Delhi and NCR also said that only four per cent of the victims of discrimination reported the matter to the police.
"Fifty-four per cent persons feel that discrimination is a reality. The highest number of 67 per cent respondents said that they were victims of ethnic/racial discrimination followed by only four per cent saying that they faced gender related discrimination while three per cent said they were discriminated on basis of their religion," said the report which was released today by NHRC Chairperson Justice K G Balakrishnan.
However, there was a silver lining in the report for the national capital as 47 per cent respondents were hopeful that the city can be free from discrimination in the future.
The survey was carried out by ReachOut Foundation with the help of Policy Research during which 1000 respondents were nterviewed in 30 different locations in Delhii and NCR.
"The situation in Delhi regarding racial/ethnic discrimination is most worrying at least for the northeast people. 74 per cent respondents said that Delhi is the most unsafe place in terms of ethnic discrimination. Only 8 per cent felt that it is the least worrying place regarding ethnic discrimination while 18 per cent did not express their opinion about it," the report revealed.
Speaking at the event, Balakrishnan said that the report will throw light at the various aspects and help us to find solution and the administrators, police should study this report and they should frame their policies…our economic reforms should be molded in such a way that this discrimination should end."
"Policies should be made in such a way that those who are not getting life opportunities, should be provided life opportunities. This should be the policy of the state, then only discrimination will end," Balakrishnan said.
According to the report, majority of respondents said discrimination is experienced either at a restaurant or sporting or public places (27 per cent). These locations were followed by 24 per cent at the educational institutions and 23 per cent during buying or renting of house. 13 per cent of them said that they faced discrimination at their workplace and seven per cent people informed that even police did not treat them equally.
The worrying thing revealed in the report is that only four per cent of the victims of discrimination reported it to the police while, 24 per cent shared their experience with a family member or a friend. 12 per cent did not say anything to anyone. At least 40 per cent people did not respond to the question whether they took any measures in such a scenario or not.
"Sixty-three per cent of the respondent felt that the main reason for the discrimination against them was their ethnic origin while 64 per cent said that the reason behind discrimination is the lack of understanding and awareness while 20 per cent felt that lack of interaction is the reason," the report said.
