**Executive Summary**
This report outlines the measures taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure the safety and security of persons from the North-Eastern region residing across India. It highlights the division of responsibility between State and Central governments, referencing a written reply provided in the Lok Sabha on March 24, 2026. Key actions include the establishment of specialized police units, monitoring committees, and grievance redressal mechanisms following a 2016 Supreme Court judgment.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Constitutional and Administrative Framework**
* **Jurisdiction:** Under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects; State Governments are responsible for crime prevention, registration, and prosecution.
* **Data Tracking:** The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles state-provided crime data, but specific data on hate speech and racial discrimination against North-Eastern persons is not maintained centrally.
* **Legal Provisions:** Existing laws contain provisions to take action against racial acts, hate comments, and gestures.
**Security and Support Initiatives**
* **Advisories and Officers:** The Central Government has issued action plan advisories to States/UTs and mandated the appointment of Nodal Officers to address grievances.
* **Specialized Units:** The Delhi Police has established a Special Police Unit for North East Region (SPUNER).
* **Communication Channels:** Dedicated helpline numbers and email IDs have been launched for lodging complaints and grievances.
* **Police Sensitization:** Chief Secretaries and DGPs are advised to sensitize personnel on legal provisions and replicate Delhi Police’s best practices.
**Oversight and Redressal**
* **Monitoring Committee:** Pursuant to a Supreme Court judgment dated December 14, 2016, a three-member Monitoring Committee operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
* **Committee Composition:** The committee includes two members and one special invitee from the North-East to monitor racial discrimination issues and grievance redressal.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments and UT Administrations**
**Impact**
They are identified as the primary entities responsible for the safety of North-Eastern citizens and the enforcement of relevant laws.
**Action Required**
Must appoint Nodal Officers, implement security action plans, and ensure law enforcement agencies take appropriate action in harassment cases.
**Law Enforcement Agencies (Police)**
**Impact**
Personnel are required to adopt higher standards of sensitivity and specialized procedures when dealing with racial discrimination.
**Action Required**
Must undergo sensitization regarding legal provisions and replicate successful models like SPUNER and specialized grievance helplines.
**People from the North-Eastern Region**
**Impact**
They are provided with dedicated institutional support and multiple avenues for reporting discrimination and seeking redressal.
**Action Required**
Encouraged to utilize dedicated email IDs, helpline numbers, and Nodal Officers to report incidents of harassment or racial slurs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Home Affairs: The primary central authority responsible for issuing safety advisories and coordinating the protection of people from the North-Eastern region residing across India.
Special Police Unit for North East Region (SPUNER): A dedicated unit established within the Delhi Police to address grievances and provide security specifically for individuals from the North-Eastern states.
Monitoring Committee: A three-member committee set up by the MHA to oversee issues and redress grievances related to racial discrimination faced by people from the North-East.
Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India: The constitutional framework that designates 'Police' and 'Public Order' as State subjects, defining the jurisdictional responsibility for crime investigation.
North-Eastern Region: The specific geographical area and demographic group whose safety, security, and grievances are the central focus of these government initiatives.
Ministry of Home Affairs
STEPS TO ENSURE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF
PEOPLE FROM NORTH-EAST
Posted On: 24 MAR 2026 4:17PM by PIB Delhi
'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The
State Governments are responsible for prevention, detection, registration and investigation of crime and
for prosecuting the criminals through their law enforcement agencies.
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles and publishes information on Crimes, received from
States/Union Territories, in its publication "Crime in India". The published reports are available till the
year 2023.Data on incidents of hate speech, racial slurs, harassment and discrimination against persons
from the North-Eastern States is not maintained centrally.
There are provisions under the existing laws to take action against hate comments/ gestures and racial acts
against the persons, including those from North-Eastern Region.
The Government of India has taken various steps to ensure safety and security of people from North-
Eastern Region residing in different parts of India such as issuance of advisories to the States/ UT
Governments regarding action plan for providing security to people from North-Eastern Region,
appointment of Nodal Officers in States/UTs to address the grievances of people from the North-Eastern
Region, sensitization of enforcement agencies to take appropriate action in case of harassment, setting up
of Special Police Unit for North East Region (SPUNER) in Delhi Police, launching of special helpline
numbers and dedicated email ID for lodging complaint/ grievances by NE people, etc.
The Chief Secretaries, Administrators and DGPs of all States/ UTs have also been advised to sensitize
police personnel in their States about relevant legal provisions available in cases of racial
discrimination against the persons of North-East and to replicate the best practices undertaken by Delhi
Police in their respective States/UTs.
Moreover, pursuant to judgement dated 14.12.2016 of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the W.P. (Civil)
No. 103 of 2014, a three-member Monitoring Committee has been set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs
with two members and one special invitee belonging to North East Region for monitoring of issues and
redressal of grievances relating to racial discrimination faced by people from North-East residing in
different parts of the country. Meetings of the Committee are held regularly.
This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai in a written
reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
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RK/RR/PR/PS/SC
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