Finding rented accommodation emerged as another problem in Bangalore with 38 per cent of the women facing difficulties, though in Delhi only 19 per cent had this problem. Overcharging of rent by landlords emerged as a common problem in Kolkata.
However, some landlords did view the north easterners in a favourable light as they take care of house, rooms and corridors as their own, unlike others, and they are clean, pleasant and honest.
In contrast to poverty-driven migration from other parts of the country, over 33 per cent respondents belonged to families falling in the middle income groups and 60 per cent had travelled in order to find better job opportunities.
The study said the respondents appeared unaware and unsure of the legal system with little or no knowledge of laws like Prevention of Atrocities Against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act, and held a mistrust for the police.
80 per cent of the victims chose not to report incidents of harassment to the police, and the small number that did approach the police said that they were not satisfied.
Yet significantly, although a majority reported different levels of discrimination, they said they preferred to stay on and 44 per cent said that they would in fact encourage their relatives and friends to migrate to the city, the survey noted.
Director of the NE Centre at Jamia Millia Islamia University Sanjoy Hazarika said this was a reflection of "people voting with their feet" and underlined the difficult challenges of deprivation and insecurity in different parts of the northeastern region.
He said the study should be expanded to more cities across the country to "get a clearer picture of conditions on a wider scale".
The result of the survey was presented in a workshop at the Centre yesterday and was attended by over 40 young scholars and teachers from Delhi University and Jamia Millia Islamia, NCW representatives and social activists.
