Two special trains from Bangalore pulled into the Guwahati station on Saturday, bringing 5,000 youths of the northeast from different parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Leaving their jobs and personal belongings, on account of rumours about their personal safety, these youths brought home worries not only for themselves and their families, but also for the State governments.
The families are upset that the remittances these youths sent home every month will come to a halt, if they are unable to return to work; this means that they have to depend primarily on agriculture. And farming is no more remunerative. After all, that factor sparked the migration first.
The States are worried as they are not in a position to re-employ these youth if they choose to stay back.
Bhupen Sarmah, director of the Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change, a think tank, says: “The return of the youth, employed mostly in the lower-end job market elsewhere, will inexorably add to the colossal unemployment problem that the region has been confronting, which prompted them to leave. Let us not talk about the remittance their poor parents used to receive, however small it might be. Secondly, it may also reinforce the sense of alienation ‘from mainland India’ in young minds.”
Jayanta Madhab, an economist who headed the Employment Generation Mission of the Assam government, says migration not only helps youth get employment and better education, it also has a larger social implication of removing the feeling of alienation. “Northeast youth are preferred by employers because of their positive attitude and good manners. Their employability can be enhanced through skill development,” he says.
Siddhartha Gogoi of Sepon in Assam’s Sivasagar district, one of the returnees, has been working as a security guard for three years in Bangalore. He says he has no option but to return to his Karnataka job as soon as possible, as he is the breadwinner, and has no land except a plot with a small house. He earns Rs.7,000 a month and stays in company housing, sending Rs.5,000 every month to his mother and sister, who is doing a computer course.
Keywords: North East issue, Assam ethnic violence, Kokrajhar riots, Bodo tribals, migrants issue, North Easterners exodus
I feel utter shame for what is happening for my fellow indians from NE
of the country, the same country we call our motherland. What about the
constitution that talks about secular nation, are those things only a
mere words.? those culprits who is responsible for this should be
punished severely...
Leading patriotic Muslim intellectuals like Aamir Khan and Shabana Azmi
should address Muslims in India not to fall for the nefarious plans by
ISI and fundamentalists sponsored by them to cause communal disharmony.
All Indians should be able live anywhere in India without fear. If we
sing Sathyameva Jayate but keep silent about the atrocities against NE
people, what is the use?
I agree specially with the views expressed by Messrs. Syed and Manohar in this column.
I live in Sydney - Australia. These news make me think if such situations happen here where will I go. For thousands of year people have migrated to different cities, countries. They have added to the social fabric of the adopted place. It is utmost responsibility of the Government and the society to make sure people don't panic and live safely and with dignity.
This is a total failure of the Govt. agencies and soceity.
Unfortunately people do not trust politician and officials. Why? Their words are not backed by actions. Culprits have blessing of Politicians. Culprits are successful in their hate campaign. Government could not imprison anybody so far which speak volume of their backing to such hate-campaign. Your personal safety is not government concern, so better safe than sorry. You are not safe as you do not enjoy Zplus security and you not VIP, so better do not trust them and take your security. With election in Dec., 2012 due 'Secular' parties will benefit if they put fear psychosis in each community. That is the mantra since sixty plus years. And they are successful.
It is very unfortunate and disgusting as well that our own NE people are feeling unsafe and insecure in their own homeland. It is equally surprising that our Intelligence Deptt. or the Police Deptt. is yet to find out the culprits behind spreading such types of false, fabricated and communal MMS/SMSes as are alleged to be sent to the people working or studying in states like Andhra,Maharastra,Karnataka etc. Rather behaving like a helpless and a mute spectator,it is high time for the state machinery to wake up and instil faith and confidence in the minds of the people from Assam and Norteast, by bringing to book those Evils responsible for spreading threatenings in MMS/SMS form.
These are the India actions for a divided India of future. Jawaharlal Nehru Dreamed of a
nation diverse in culture, language, heritage and religion but unity binding it as one. Over a
period of time the political leadership in India willfully divided the country on caste, religion,
language basis for creating their own vote banks, now we are headed for a divided India.
Country's economy is being bartered out to Western Nations in the name of Globalisation,
economic reforms which does not include the common man. Natural resources are being
exploited by a few influential, corruption is rampant in all fields and is order of the day and
each and every one is making hay when the Sun shines for them. The Nation is going down
the hill, a day is not far off when we will lose our independence once gain to foreign powers
due to betrayal by our elected representatives and their lacsidal policies.
The words "Ramadan" and "Muslims" here and there in articles related to this specific development suggests that there is a clear attempt to point fingers at muslims. Everyone in India should understand that Muslims themselves are worried about their own safety let alone threatening some other community and that too across the nation.
Definitely i can sense a much deeper and organized conspiracy against the muslims, because a single SMS cannot cause such a huge exodus. Logically i can suspect a few groups like the ones who did bomb blasts and blamed it on muslims. Media also seems to have played a role in this conspiracy by spreading some messages. It could be to turn more and more assamese against muslims using the situation in Assam, or some other sinster motives. Only time will prove.
Muslims should do their part by talking to Assamese (or other North Eastern) citizens and convincing them that there is no threat from muslims.
It is sad commentary to see that such things are happening after nearly r70 years of world
war II again .our polcie in bangalore is visiting colleges and informing students from outside
Bangalore to leave the city which is disgusting .they need to catch the culprits and not
cause further panic .most people from NE are doing menial jobs in restaurants and some in
IT .they have done no wrong .it is the political system wherein u encourage bangladeshis to
settle first , give them citizen ship , get their votes and now blame all for this .it is High time
, our leaders realise that if you culivate frankenstein , you will pay a high. Price which indira
Gandhi did with sant bhindranwale .NE people are hardworking is no doubt .for that matter
all immigrants be it bangladeshis or people from NE who have spread out or marwadis or
malayalis have to survive when u move out of your home town .the government which is to
protect it's citizen is now staring at exodus and have no clue.
In a secular country like india, people of different caste
and culture live in harmony. very often this harmony is disturbed due
to violence among people of different communities,which ended up in
violence. In addition to this trouble shooters and rumour mongers are
giving maximum troubles . This has resulted in death of innocent lives
and many flee to their home town to live peacefully , tightening their
belt.This kind of paradox is avoidable. In addition the production loss
and distribution goods and services are affected adversely. With
experience before us, the home ministry should take steps to quell rumor mongers and bring harmony among people. The entire nation is one
with the Government in supporting the call "come back" wherever you are
placed and stay their with happiness and confidence. This is the spirit
which every Indian should emulate.
Humans went as immigrants to every corner of the globe and survived
somehow. They have been squeezed dry for a pittance by those who bought
their labor. Today the chauvinistic attitude displayed by wily minded
politicians and their goons is creating this havoc. From these
sufferings and understanding the manipulative actions by the politicians
people will become wiser and peace will come soon.
What is happening is not good. Our NE brethern are Indiains first and Assamese, Manipuris, Punjabis etc later. Why these poor people should be targeted who have come out of their state for their vocation just as any other Indian does. Such unscrulpous elements who are attacking such people should be put behind bars and charged suo moto under various penal sections like creating disharmony and should be given the severest punishment with a minimum jail term of 10 years. Such unfortunate happenings should be nipped in the bud failign which it shall be very bad for the country as a whole.
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