Centre accepts report on safety of northeastern people (Lead)

New Delhi, Jan 2 (IANS) The central government has accepted the recommendations of a committee that has suggested immediate measures to ensure the safety of people from India's northeast in Delhi and other major cities.

"The government (has) accepted the recommendations of the M.P. Bezbaruah Committee with regard to immediate measures," union Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the media Friday.

"The government is committed (to the) safety and security of the people from the northeast region living in Delhi and other metropolitan cities," he said.

The committee headed by M.P. Bezbaruah, a member of the North Eastern Council, was set up in February 2014 after 19-year-old Nido Tania, a student from Arunachal Pradesh, died here after he was attacked.

The panel was formed to look into the concerns of the people of the northeast living in other parts of the country and suggest suitable remedial measures.

The minister said the Indian Penal Code (IPC) will also be amended as suggested by the committee.

"The IPC will be amended for insertion of new sections of 153C and 509A as recommended by the committee," Rajnath Singh said, adding that the law and justice ministry has also agreed to the proposal in this regard.

"As part of legal assistance, a panel of seven lawyers, including five women lawyers, has been constituted by the Delhi State Legal Service Authority for providing legal assistance to the needy people from the northeast," he said.

Rajnath Singh said the Delhi government would also provide monetary assistance to the victims of any violence in the city.

"The Delhi government will also be providing compensation and monetary assistance to the northeast people under Delhi Victim Compensation Scheme 2011."

"Recommendations made by the committee regarding special police initiatives and additional steps to be taken by the various state police forces and Delhi Police have been accepted for immediate implementation," the minister said.