CHANDIGARH: Foreign nationals, feel insecure moving out alone in the city, especially ladies and ‘couples fear that they run the risk of their woes is the hesitation of Local house owners in renting out accommodation to foreign stu1s. Most of the African students frequently face rowdy elements king fun at them and at times en face obscenities, Almost all foreigners feel hesitant in approaching the local police as there is a general feeling of distrust.

In the wake of the recent incident of molestation of a French tourist, here, there is a perceptible feeling of discomfort, bordering on insecurity among the foreign nationals in the city, whether students, tourists or others engaged in specific missions, in and around the city.

“Mr. John Harms, an English tourist said here last week that he found it difficult 10 find accommodation in the city as his request for acomopodation was turned down by any hotels around the main bus Condemning the Kaitia in he said that this city, which considered safe by tourists, to be going the way of other metros in the subcontinent.

Tsetan, a Tibetan girl student said that girls from her community preferred to go out in the company of male colleagues as there had been incidents of harassment of girls going out even in groups, let alone of those venturing out alone, After the Kattia case there was considerable feeling of insecurity among the girl students, she added. Surrey of a cross section of the foreign nationals, here revealed that despite having a feeling of warmth for natives, and appreciation for the hospitality extended by the locals, who are scarce, most foreign nationals have started feeling insecure in the city of late.

Mr. Didier Bognon, 4 French tourists said that he felt quite safe but couldn’t vouch the same for the lady traveller. Lamenting the Kattia incident, he added that temporarily the tourist traffic might be affected as fallout of the incident. ‘A chat with these “guests” also showed that a lack of sensitivity and an attitude of even downright disdain and hostility is encountered by them from residents of this modem city despite its high literacy rate and a population with predominantly urban roots.

Ms. Carolyn, a Kenyan student and a committee member of the Kenya Africa Students’ Association said, it’s common to encounter youngsters calling US names or making indecent gestures on seeing us. She attributed this indifferent attitude of locals, either because of lack of exposure or education. Deploring the Kaitia incident, she said that such incidents did make one foot insecure. Another African student, Evans, expressed that probably more sensitivity on the pan of Indians would promote better interaction with the foreigners.

Georg Peonage and Sandra Domm, two German architects visiting the city reported having encountered an incident of teasing by a youngster and said they were shocked on learning about the Kaltia case. Otherwise, they found the city quite hospitable. Ms. Anne Janssen, another German tourist who is staying in a Gurdwara in the city, said she was equally shocked on learning about the incident.

Mohammad Abdul Momen, an official of the Commonwealth Youth Program, here, felt that there was a perceptible change in attitudes of the natives towards foreigners in the last few years. An increasing incidence of eve-teasing and a feeling of apprehension among the girls from foreign countries and indifference of the police force made him feel that the youngsters needed to be given proper fomentation. Dwelling on the general problems faced by the foreign nationals in the city, Thomas Ogolla, another African student said that there is a general feeling of distrust among the natives of city for foreigners and the first reaction of the natives 1s to say “No.”

‘Though personally not encumbered by these problems, Mr. Ogolla said that he was aware that many had to furnish even character certificates besides heavy securities for getting accommodation.

Verbiage apart, most foreigners seemed to say this is no home away from home.

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 16, 1994