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NEIWAC leaders with Chennai City Cooperation officials in one of the Northeast Shelter Homes in Chennai. (Photo Courtesy: NEIWAC)
Chennai, April 3 (MExN): Following the nationwide lockdown to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, North East India Welfare Association Chennai (NEIWAC) has identified 93 people from the northeast region, including 30 from Nagaland, taking shelter in Alandur zone, Chennai.
NEIWAC President Wapangtoshi issued a press release on Friday providing updates on the initiatives taken up by the Association for people from the Northeast region, many of whom have lost employment or faced racial discrimination and harassment following the outbreak.
With the initiative of the NEIWAC, the Chennai City Cooperation and Tamil Nadu State Government set up two Northeast shelter homes in Alandur zone, Chennai with free food, medical facilities and transportation. So far, there are 93 northeast people including 30 from Nagaland taking shelter in these two facilities and several others have been surviving on the support initiated by NEIWAC in different places in Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Salem, the release stated.
“We have requested the Tamil Nadu CM and Chennai City Cooperation Commissioner to set up a separate shelter home for the northeast people because of the safety and security of the people as well as the impending economic crisis of the people particularly in the unorganized sector in the city,” said Wapangtoshi. He also expressed concern on how they will resume lives after the lockdown and suggested that the respective state governments provide them assistance for travel tickets for those who want to return home.
The NEIWAC also met with Chennai City Police Commissioner, DCP (IS) Chennai, AIGP (Law and Order), Tamil Nadu NE Nodal Officer, ACP (IS) Chennai NE Nodal Officer and other police officials and identified 18 places in Chennai that have a significant northeast population. Security measures have been taken by the police, especially in these localities to make sure the racism menace is curbed.
It said that the Chidambaram area Police under Cuddalore district was alerted by the Tamil Nadu police headquarters on alleged racial discrimination against NE people where around 45 students from the northeast region are residing.
