Manchester tackles racism against Kerala nurses
Friday, December 01, 2006
Source: IANSImage Source: AFP
London: The Greater Manchester Police (GMP) force has won an award for coming to the rescue of the small Kerala-origin community that has become the target of sustained racist attacks in recent months.
The victims were mainly nurses and their families from Kerala who had come to work at the Wythenshawe Hospital in 2000.
The small community settled around the hospital, but soon became victims of racist attacks.In one attack, a girl's hair was set on fire, while the husband of a nurse working at the hospital was attacked at his house.
The unnamed victims have recounted their tales to the local media in Manchester. The husband of the nurse said: "I was sitting with my 18-month-old son on my knee when someone smashed my window with a rock, showering us with glass. My son was so upset he screamed and didn't stop crying for an hour.
A week later, it happened again."A nurse said: "We have had our car windows smashed, and fireworks and eggs thrown at the house. One of my friends' daughters was targeted by people who tried to put matches to her hair."We came here to help people. We are not illegal immigrants. We pay tax and work at the hospital, but we are too afraid to leave our house after dark."
However, the local police, Housing and Council officials took these acts seriously.
They organised 'open days' at the hospital and encouraged members of the Kerala community to become involved against the drive against racism.A race incident steering group was set up, uniformed police patrols were increased and spy cameras were installed.
A number of people were charged and anti-social behaviour orders were imposed on the culprits. Reports from Manchester say that police figures now show that the number of incidents has dropped "significantly". The team formed to tackle the problems has now won the 2006 "Diversity in Action Award" from the magazine Police Review.
Paul Goggins, MP for Wythenshawe, told the Manchester Evening News: "As the community has become more diverse, this has called for leadership and a sensitive response from local police. This award underlines how successful the police have been."
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Ok..
This is the news..
Friday, December 01, 2006
Source: IANSImage Source: AFP
London: The Greater Manchester Police (GMP) force has won an award for coming to the rescue of the small Kerala-origin community that has become the target of sustained racist attacks in recent months.
The victims were mainly nurses and their families from Kerala who had come to work at the Wythenshawe Hospital in 2000.
The small community settled around the hospital, but soon became victims of racist attacks.In one attack, a girl's hair was set on fire, while the husband of a nurse working at the hospital was attacked at his house.
The unnamed victims have recounted their tales to the local media in Manchester. The husband of the nurse said: "I was sitting with my 18-month-old son on my knee when someone smashed my window with a rock, showering us with glass. My son was so upset he screamed and didn't stop crying for an hour.
A week later, it happened again."A nurse said: "We have had our car windows smashed, and fireworks and eggs thrown at the house. One of my friends' daughters was targeted by people who tried to put matches to her hair."We came here to help people. We are not illegal immigrants. We pay tax and work at the hospital, but we are too afraid to leave our house after dark."
However, the local police, Housing and Council officials took these acts seriously.
They organised 'open days' at the hospital and encouraged members of the Kerala community to become involved against the drive against racism.A race incident steering group was set up, uniformed police patrols were increased and spy cameras were installed.
A number of people were charged and anti-social behaviour orders were imposed on the culprits. Reports from Manchester say that police figures now show that the number of incidents has dropped "significantly". The team formed to tackle the problems has now won the 2006 "Diversity in Action Award" from the magazine Police Review.
Paul Goggins, MP for Wythenshawe, told the Manchester Evening News: "As the community has become more diverse, this has called for leadership and a sensitive response from local police. This award underlines how successful the police have been."
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Ok..
This is the news..
But does anybody knows this outside Manchester?
No...A Big NO.
Why?
No body bothers!
I suspect that there is a inherent bias in the National media about reporting crimes committed against ethnic minorities. Especially, their attitude towards any news about India and Indians is very much to be analysed.
I feel that the majority of media people has some sort of collective "blind eye syndrome" while reporting news about this particular ethnic community. It may be because that this Indian community itself is so diverse and always doesn't speak in one single voice. More over, this community is also not properly represented by their native country's political/Administrative elders.
But this is NOT ACCEPTABLE.
A news is a news.
I am not a racist. I like this country and I respect Britain.
But certain question does comes to my mind.
Let us speak about a different scenario.
If a white family is affected in this way in any part of the world, (God bless them that it doesn't happen!) will this national media keep quiet?
They will start screaming repeatedly from the roof tops till some one from the ministry answers them.
I do not condemn this behaviour. In fact, I welcome this and I know that that is the duty of the free press which is alive and kicking.
But the question which I am raising is whether the same set of rules is applied evenly across the board.
If any of the nurses from any other country (Especially Pakistan) is affected, then the story would have got much more attention from the national press.
I am not exaggerating anything.
If we happen to look back the stories picked up by the national media, my view point will be understood.
Why...Why this disparity?
Anyway, kudos to the brave local media which
highlighted this issues and congratulations to the
local Law enforcing authorities which is GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE FORCE for taking the
necessary action without any delay.
