Problems plenty

It’s a roller-coaster ride for the students of the North-East in the national capital. Their stay in the city is not smooth.
Anjan Chowdhury

THOUGH the Prime Minister has agreed to open a cell for the North-Eastern students under DONER Ministry and the Delhi Government is constructing a hostel for the girls of the region, problems still continue for the North-Eastern students in the national capital. Presently nearly 17,000 students from the North-East are studying in various colleges and Universities in Delhi, which include Undergraduates, Postgraduates, Phd and law students. Every year thousands arrive in the city in search of better careers and opportunities.

Lack of adequate facilities for higher education in the North-East are forcing youngsters from the region to seek admissions in the colleges of Delhi. Though located thousands of kms away from their homes in the North East, the students prefer Delhi to Calcutta simply for the opportunities and facilities available in national capital. Many of them believe that their journey would bring rewards for them and help to choose a career of their choice. However, it’s a roller-coaster ride for the students of the North-East in the national capital. Their stay in the city is not smooth with many of them facing problems ranging from accommodation to cultural conflict. According to Kevi, former President of the Naga Students’ Union Delhi, most of the students from the region find it difficult to adjust with the North Indian culture and lifestyle. “Any fresher would take one to two years to adjust himself and even then he would prefer to stay with the fellow students from the region.’’ The North Indians do not understand the sensitivities of the people from the region and hesitate to embrace them. Adequate efforts are not yet being made to bridge this cultural gap, which further alienates the North Easterners instead of integrating them into the mainstream. The students from the different states of the North-East have established their respective student unions in Delhi to extend all possible help to the students specially during the time of admission and finding suitable accommodation for them. 2004 is no exception when hundreds of students from the North-East are seeking admission to the various colleges in Delhi. Few hundreds are expected to arrive in the coming weeks as well.

According to Kevi the NSUD are helping the Naga students as well as other students from the region in the admission process. “Many of them are in fact coming to Delhi for the first time and not aware of the system here. The students’ union are helping them with the procedural matters.’’ Another major problem for most of the North-Easterners is the delay in the declaration of results in many of the schools and colleges in the region due to which they often are late while submitting forms for the Undergraduate courses in the Delhi colleges. “There should be some relaxations for the students of the North East who have to travel thousands of kms to reach Delhi and sometimes get late. We have raised this issue with the Delhi University authorities and will raise the issue in near future at the Ministry level,’’ says Nyamar KarBak, General Secretary, National Students Union of India and Chairman of North East Students Affairs in the Union. The Mizo, Kuki and other students’ union expressed similar sentiments and felt the urgent need to modify the rules for the students of the North-East.

Alien, president of the Kuki Students’ Union, says the Kukis who are spread over Assam, Manipur and Mizoram, face more problems therefore relaxation in dates would enable more and more Kuki students to enroll themselves in Delhi pages. Presently 100 Kuki students are studying in Delhi. L Pachuau, of Delhi Mizo Students’ Union and student of Hindu College is of opinion that it depends on the individual personality how fast he or she can adjust to the culture and environment in North East. “Undoubtedly there is a cultural gap but not all North Indians are equal. I get along well with many of my classmates specially those with a modern outlook and mindset.” Albert Donald, who is seeking admission in the Commerce stream, echoes similar sentiments. Albert, who has completed his Class 12 from Roorkee and wears a kara, says he has no problems of adjustment and has many friends from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and other North Indian states. He wants to enroll for MBA after his graduation. Yuthongla, another fresher from Nagaland and seeking admission in the science stream, is visiting Delhi for the first time in her life. Overawed by the pace of the city, she says a degree from a Delhi college would give her plenty of opportunities and a variety of carrer options. Yuthongla aspires to join Indian Army and serve the nation. Most of the students from the North East, however, prefer Humanities to Science or Commerce. Virieletuo, also from Nagaland and seeking admission in the Arts stream  aspires to join Indian Civil Service. A major problem, apart from cultural cohabitation for the students from the region is lack of adequate accommodation for them. Many of the student bodies prefer separate hostels for the North Eastern students. According to Nyamar, the Delhites charge more from the North-Eastern students while renting out rooms compared to the rent they charge from the students of the other states. He said the Delhi Government is constructing a hostel for the girls from the North-East in Pitampura, which will be a great boon for them. More such efforts are needed to make their stay in Delhi comfortable.

Nyanmar who along with Assam Youth Congress chief met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently, said they had apprised him of the problems being faced by the students of the North East. The Prime Minister has assured to open a cell for the North Eastern youths under the DONER Ministry headed by Shillong MP Patty Ripple Kyndiah, to look into the problems being faced by the students, he said. Dr Singh would also direct Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Sunil Dutt to launch various schemes to promote football in the North East. Soccer is the most popular sports in the region.

“It is the need of the hour for  the students and youths of the North-East to unite and speak in  one   voice setting aside their differences to resolve their problems,’’ he said, adding, “the NSUI would soon take up the issue of the North-Easterners with the Delhi University Students Union.’’

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