Discrimination against people from the Northeast has been a long-standing issue. People from the Northeast are frequently misidentified or stereotyped as being from China, Nepal, or Myanmar”an attitude that is both ignorant and unacceptable.
It is a fact that people from the Northeast, because of their distinct identity, continue to face discrimination and difficulties in other parts of our country. In some tragic instances in the recent past, they have even lost their lives at the hands of unscrupulous elements.
Greater connectivity and exposure have reduced such behaviour, and things are far better than they once were. Today, it is largely a minority of unexposed and poorly educated individuals who continue to label South Indians as "Madrasis", or those from the Northeast as "Chinkis" or "Nepalis".
To its credit, the Union government has taken serious note of such incidents and constituted the Bezbaruah Committee, which examined the issue in depth and submitted a set of recommendations. These measures could significantly mitigate the grievances of people from the Northeast living in other parts or states in India for education, employment, and other reasons.
