INDIAN NGOS THAT ASSIST VICTIMS OF TERRORISM:

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 009296 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PGOV PHUM IN SUBJECT: INDIAN NGOS THAT ASSIST VICTIMS OF TERRORISM: RESPONSE TO NSC REF: STATE 218921 ¶1. (SBU) India suffers from three major strains of terrorism -- jihadi separatism in Jammu and Kashmir (that also of late spills into Delhi); Maoist/Naxalite terrorism that has spread through 12 states in the West, Central, and South regions of the country; and ethno-linguistic separatism in the North-East. The independent Institute for Conflict Management estimates that over 500 civilians and 200 security personnel were killed in terrorist attacks in J&K alone in both 2004 and 2005 (to date). That said, respected human rights advocate Ravi Nair confirms our sense that that there are relatively few NGOs that target their programs toward victims of terrorist violence. The NGOs listed below are based in Delhi, J&K, and the North-East. Because of legislation that restricts foreign donations to charitable organizations and public image concerns, many Indian NGOs do not accept foreign assistance. (NOTE: We cannot attest to these groups' bonafides. END NOTE.) ¶2. (U) New Delhi-Based NGOs: Rajiv Gandhi Foundation Jawahar Bhawan Dr. Rajendra Prasad Rd New Delhi, 110001 Phone: 011-2375-5119 Internet: www.rgfindia.org POC: Mr. Manmohan Malhoutra The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation provides post-traumatic stress counseling and educational opportunities for orphans of terrorist victims. It is closely tied to the Gandhi family and Congress politicians, and does not accept foreign funding. All India Anti-Terrorist Front 14 Talkatora Road New Delhi, 110001 Phone: 011-2373-0677 POC: Mr. MS Bitta The AIATF is primarily an advocacy organization against terrorist violence. It also issues support grants to the families of terrorist victims and to security officials and journalists injured in terrorist attacks. MS Bitta is a Congress Party politician. Center for Dialogue and Reconciliation New Delhi Phone: 95124-24606/02, 98995-23366 POC: Sushoba Bharve The Center for Dialogue and Reconciliation organizes workshops/meetings in J&K on peace education for Kashmiri youth affected by terrorism. Ms. Bharve also works with organizations in J&K that run orphanages and works with women who are victims. ¶3. (U) Kashmir-Based NGOs: J&K Yateem Trust Maisuma, Gowkadal Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Phone: 0194-247-5114 NEW DELHI 00009296 002 OF 004 The J&K Yateem Trust Provides education for orphans of terrorist victims. Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons Bund, Amira Kadal Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Phone: 0194-245-6381, 0194-243-6495, 0194-248-2820 POC: Parvez Imroze Internet: www.geocities.com/apdpkashmir/home.html The Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons is a support and advocacy group for families where a member has been "disappeared" by police/security services, ostensibly because the missing family member was accused of terrorism. Kashmir Foundation for Peace and Developmental Studies Institute for Reconciliation Q-5, Tulsibagh Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Phone: 0194-248-1641, 0194-244-1374 POC: Firdaus Syed The Kashmir Foundation for Peace and Developmental Studies provides broad support services, including for terrorist victims and their families. Hindu Welfare Society Jammu and Kashmir Phone: 0194-246-7020, 94190-90468 POC: Moti Lal Bhat, President The Hindu Welfare Society provides employment and rehabilitation for victims of terrorism. Human Effort for Love and Peace (HELP) Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Phone: 0194-231-0757, 94190-00721 POC: Nighat Pandit HELP provides assistance to widows and orphans of victims of terrorism. Action Committee for Return of Migrants Satwari Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir Phone: 0191-226-2902 POC: Jatendra Bakshi, President The Action Committee for Return of Migrants advocates on behalf of Kashmiri Pandits (Hindus) who fled terrorism in J&K and now live as internally displaced persons in India. Guild of Service Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Phone: 5101-3416/17/18 Mobile: 98101-29594 POCs: Mohini Giri, Meera Khanna The Guild of Service runs a center that currently houses 60 children and 20 women. The Guild's focus is education and rehabilitation for children whose families have suffered from terrorism. ¶4. (U) North-East-based NGOs: Aashwas DIG Eastern Range, Assam Police NEW DELHI 00009296 003 OF 004 Jorhat, Assam Phone: 94350-50167, 0376-233-1122/233-1133 e-mail: aashwas@assampolice.com Internet: www.assampolice.com/aashwas/ProjComp4.htm POC: Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta (Assam Police) Aashwas is an Assam Police project supported by UNICEF. Its goal is to "help the child victims of violence and insurgency" by sensitizing police officers and offering educational assistance and vocational training to Assamese children of families that have suffered from terrorism. Lutheran World Service (India) Uttarpara, Ward No. 1 P.O. Gossaigaon 783360 District Kokrajhar, Assam Phone: 03669-220-815, 94351-27457 POC: Subrata Sarkar Lutheran World Service has introduced food-for-work programs and helped construct roads for thousands of people who remain displaced by the 1996 Kokrajhar riots. Prahari Assam Police Phone: 0361-245-3187, 94350-49624 e-mail: kulasaikia@yahoo.com POC: Mr. Kula Saikia, Inspector General of Police (Training) Prahari is an Assam Police organization led by 2000 Fulbright fellow Kula Saikia. The organizations objectives include improving police-community relations and rebuilding local schools and infrastructure destroyed by violence. Prahari selects villages that are either crime infested, communally sensitive, or terrorist prone -- their project covers 60 villages in Assam that have suffered terrorism and/or ethnic violence. Prahari has not received financial aid in the past, but would accept aid if offered. Project Interact (sponsored by Rajiv Gandhi Foundation) Implemented by Khwai Social Development Organization (KSDO) Nagamapal Lamabam Leikai Imphal, Manipur Phone: 0385-244-1052, 94360-33249 POCs: Assistant Secretary R.K. Diana Manoharan; Coordinators: Shantibala Devi & Apollo Singh Rajkumar The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, under Project Interact, sponsors the education of insurgency-hit children in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and parts of the Northeast. The Foundation gathers information about such children from police, district authorities, and NGOs. KSDO helps victim families file police reports, obtain birth certificates for affected children, examine claims, and facilitates payments for the maintenance and education of the children. Covenant Children's Home Mualkoi, BSF Road Churachandpur, Manipur Phone: 03874-235-685, 94360-24348 e-mail: lian clara@yahoo.com Internet: www.covenantseminary.edu/pmi/LT children.asp POC: Lian Tombing, Director Supported by the St. Louis-based Presbyterian International Mission, Covenant Children's Home is an orphanage for NEW DELHI 00009296 004 OF 004 children whose parents were killed in 1997-98 ethnic clashes in Churachandpur, Manipur. Seventy-four children from Manipur and the neighboring states of Assam and Mizoram are housed there, around 500 more are on a waiting list. ¶5. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website: (http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/) MULFORD