Northeast Indians in Pune face racial discrimination, student groups say

People from Northeast India living in Pune are facing alleged racial discrimination, social exclusion and safety problems, two organisations, the Manipur Students' Association, Pune (MSAP) and the North East Community Organisation Pune (NECOP), have said. The matter came to light in Pune on November 6, 2026.

In a joint statement issued on Friday, the organisations appealed to civil society, educational institutions, local administration and citizens. They said everyone should work to create a safe and inclusive environment for the Northeast community.

The organisations said that despite India's cultural diversity and the Northeast's reputation for hospitality, people from the region face prejudice over their physical appearance, cultural practices, food habits and lifestyle. The statement said: "The Northeast is known across the world for its warm hospitality, yet its people face exclusion and prejudice in their own country."

On the safety of women, the organisations said women from the Northeast are particularly vulnerable to harassment and racial profiling. They alleged that such experiences include curbs on personal freedom, constant public staring and physical harassment in public places. The statement said: "Racial profiling exposes women from the Northeast to greater insecurity and harassment. Their personal freedom is severely restricted, they are constantly stared at, and they are physically harassed in public places."

The organisations also raised concern about the treatment of men from the region. They alleged that men face abuse, racial slurs and physical harassment. They also said repeated incidents of discrimination have left members of the community feeling isolated and insecure, affecting their daily lives. The statement went on: "Despite India's founding principle of 'unity in diversity', repeated incidents of racial discrimination leave members of the community feeling isolated and unsafe in their everyday lives."

Pune is a major educational and commercial centre, and thousands of students and professionals from the Northeast come to the city. However, MSAP and NECOP said that despite the city's inclusive reputation, the social atmosphere at times makes students and residents from the region feel alien and unwelcome. The organisations said: "Despite the city's inclusive image, the social atmosphere here repeatedly makes students and residents from the Northeast feel alien and unwelcome."

Making a call for collective action, both organisations asked citizens and institutions to challenge racial stereotypes, promote social inclusion and ensure that people from the Northeast can live, study and work in Pune with dignity and safety. The statement concluded: "Through this statement, we appeal to civil society, educational institutions, local administration and the general public to nurture genuine inclusiveness, break down racial stereotypes and ensure a safe and respectful environment for all citizens."

The statement was issued by Bidyananda Huidrom, general secretary of the Manipur Students' Association, Pune.