Survey paints grey picture for NE ladies

Molestation and harassment by young men and over-charging by autorickshaw and taxi drivers are some of the most common problems faced by women from the northeastern states in the four cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore, a survey has found.

According to the survey conducted by the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research, 27 per cent women complained about over-charging by taxi and autorickshaw drivers while 26 per cent complained about molestation or eve teasing. The survey, which was sponsored by the National Commission for Women, found that 27 per cent of the respondents had faced verbal abuse for being mistakenly identified as foreigners.

Besides, while 14 per cent said that shopkeepers often overcharged them, 16 per cent complained that landlords asked them "uncomfortable" questions about their lifestyles, work, food and native place.

Four per cent of the women said they were declined tenancy as they belonged to the Northeast and three per cent stated that they had faced harassment on the streets by young men. The survey covered over 300 respondents, including landlords, teachers, lawyers, police and social activists.

It found that migrant women were especially vulnerable to deprivation, hardships, discrimination and abuse, and that such cases were 30 per cent more pronounced vis-a-vis women from the Northeast.

However, the survey found that despite the discrimination, 44 per cent of the respondents would still encourage their friends and relatives to migrate to the metro cities as these held better opportunities for both education and work.

Also, 41 per cent of the respondents were not thinking of returning to their states.