Apartheid and Racism Still Rampant in the Indian System

India claims that it is not racist, that it has no prejudice against any skin colour, that it does not treat Africans any differently than it would any other foreigner. But the conditions in which Africans are kept in deportation camps directly contradict these claims.

Every now and then, reports emerge of the inhumane conditions in which foreigners are kept inside these camps, of the filth they are fed as food, and of the absence of medical care. The Nigerians inside the camp are distraught and helpless, and at a complete loss as to why they have been imprisoned in the camp for such a long time. “If my Visa has expired, send me back. Why have I been kept here for more than a year?”

Two weeks ago, Indian Express published a report on a hunger strike carried out by the 50 inmates living inside the detention facility, protesting the awful state in which they were being kept. Following up on that story, NewsClick decided to visit the camp to find out more about the living conditions. The camp is not easy to reach. It is located right at the edge of the city, on the Haryana border, in a village called Lampur which is beyond Narela. It is 21km from the nearest metro station. Google maps does not have a location for the camp.

The inmates of the camp wrote a letter addressed to the President, the Prime Minister, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs. In the letter, they described the conditions in which they are kept. They wrote that the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) and the Bureau of Immigration is extorting money for deportation. The travel charges of deportation are supposed to be borne by the government, but here, the administration is demanding the inmates pay money ranging from Rs 70,000 to Rs 1,20,000 if they want to be deported.

In the letter, they have alleged that the General Director of FRRO, and the inspector in charge of deportation, Mr Anand Kumar, have transformed the deportation camp into an avenue for making money.

The visitation rules for the camp are generally not too strict. You can give the name of whoever you want to meet, and you’ll be permitted to enter. Post the hunger strike, however, things have changed. On inquiring about the sudden change in rules, an official replied, “It used to be lenient. Par fir inn logo ne hungama kar diya. Uske baad se strict kar diya hai. (It used to be lenient. But then these guys created a ruckus. Things have been made stricter since then.)” So not only did the demands of the hunger strike go unheard, the detainees of the camp are being punished further, for daring to protest for a more just and humane treatment. These orders, according to the official, were issued by the FRRO in RK Puram. And if one is to visit the camp, one has to get a permit from the FRRO.

After pleading and requesting for some time, the officials of the camp granted us permission to speak to whoever we wish to visit for five minutes from outside the gate. We were thus able to speak with three Nigerians whose names we had obtained from other sources. Two of those Nigerians had been living inside the camp for over a year now. They had a lot of complaints: “The food is garbage. The toilets are filthy. We’re given expired medicine.” Medical assistance, if any, can only be received after having to beg. And even then, the doctor just comes till the gate and hands them expired or nearly expired medicine. “We refuse to take such medicines. We are not animals. We are not dogs. We are humans.”

The state of the deportation camps throughout the country is quite poor, and has been reported in the past. But no action has been taken to bring about any improvement. The Nigerian embassy has sent multiple letters to the Ministry of External Affairs requesting improvement in the camp facilities, but they haven't gotten any response. Sushma Swaraj, who has often been hailed as a foreign minister who is fast and efficient in sending help to those in need, doesn't seem to be very helpful when it comes to Africans stuck in India. Can the country still claim it is not racist?

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the author's personal views, and do not necessarily represent the views of Newsclick.