Guwahati, Oct 28 (IANS): In the wake of attacks on people from the northeast in many cities across India, an organisation under the culture ministry has launched a programme "Discover North East" to create awareness about the region and its people.

The North East Zonal Cultural Centre (NEZCC), which functions under the union culture ministry, plans to extend the cultural campaign to other cities and states across India from next year.

"From next year, the NEZCC will travel with artistes from the eight states of the region to hold cultural programmes in all the states, and thereby create greater awareness about the people of the region, the geography, culture of the various tribes etc. so that people across India understand about the people here and there are no attacks," NEZCC director Lipokmar Tzudir said Tuesday.

The NEZCC has already organised the programme in Nagaland and Sikkim. It will organise the programme in Guwahati from Wednesday.

"We hope to touch the rest of the northeastern states by March 2015. From April 2015, we are going to travel across the country," he said.

"The atrocities on the northeastern people are mainly because of the ignorance about the region. We must first unite ourselves as one community and start appreciating each other," he said.

"As we understand each other and appreciate each other, we would travel to the states across India and tell them about us as one community," he added.

The Discover North East event will have handicrafts, cuisines and cultural events, highlighting the rich traditions and music of all the states.

"This will tell the people in the country that we are equal and we can also contribute to nation-building the same way they are doing," he said.