About NE Support Centre & Helpline
North East Support Centre with Helpline was initiated in a meeting help at YMCA, Tourist Hostel, New Delhi on September 5, 2007. It launched with large group on October 21, 2007 at Press Club, New Delhi. It is All India Christian Council’s wing to fight racial/gender-based violence faced by the people from North East India living in Delhi and NCR.
To recall the background of North East Support Centre & Helpline initiative, Dr. John Dayal – National Integration Council member, All India Catholic Union President and All India Christian Council General Secretary kick off the new proposal as he often meet the young North East boys and girls with stories of harassment and sexual abuse in market and work places.
Due to circumstances, North East youngsters on constant move to Delhi and other parts of the country in search professional carriers and job hunts. Looking at the recent incidents of attempt rape in auto rickshaw, sexual harassment in Gurgaon Mall and rape in 2005, a need of a support centre and helpline has been noticed among many of the north easterners.
With this concern, Dr. Dayal along with Mr. Sangtam – Former MP from Nagaland and Rev. Madhu Chandra – Regional Secretary of All India Christian Council and National Secretary of All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations met Commissioner of the Delhi Police, Mr. YS Dadwal, IPS and briefed the harassment meted out to the north east boys and girls.
Response to the SMS campaign generated from Rev. Chandra and initiative of Dr. Dayal, many officials, youngsters and students from north east India, studying and working in Delhi and NCR signaled to launch out the new initiative.
A Preliminary meeting was called at YMCA Tourist Hostel, New Delhi on September 5, 2007 at 5:30 PM. Dr. John Dayal; Mr. Anil Chamadia – Dalit activist and Journalist; Rev. Madhu Chandra, Rev. Letlal Haokip – Association Pastor of Kuki Worship Service, Delhi; Mr. Ambika Hongsha – Secretary Paul Mission India, Ms. Lansinglu Rongmei – Supreme Court Lawyer and Legal Secretary of All India Christian Council, Dr. Alana Golmei – Activist.
Ad hoc committee was setup with Ms. Lansinglu as President, Rev. Letlal as Secretary, Mr. Ambika Hongsha as Treasurer, Rev. Madhu Chandra & Anil Chamadia as Media Secretaries and Dr. John Dayal as patron. The present ad hoc committee with membership open for representation from all north eastern states will function as core group.
The NE support Centre & Helpline met with other community and students leaders and hope that the Support Centre and Helpline will help their communities at the time of crisis.
The new initiative will be launched officially with larger group to join from eight north eastern states on October 20, 2007 at 3.30 PM at Press Club of India, New Delhi.
Aim and objective of North East Support Centre and Helplines is to provide proactive assistance to the North East India communities and tribal communities from other states studying, working and living in Delhi and NCR.
The new initiative is supported by All India Catholic Union, United Christian Action, All India Christian Council and All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations and North East Students’ United Forum Delhi
To meet the immediate need at the time of crisis, new initiative will setup the helpline network in different zonal of Delhi and NCR.
North East Support Centre & Helpline,
New Delhi