Assam students’ body meets Census Registrar General over NRC

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Guwahati: With the updating process of National Register of Citizens (NRC) going on for the people of Assam, several flaws have been detected by the civil society and various other organizations.


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In fact, the All Assam Minorities’ Students’ Union (AAMSU) have met the Registrar General and Census Commissioner in New Delhi. The Char Chapori Sahitya Parishad (CCSP) too has raised its objections and demanded a flawless NRC.


NRC Seva Kendra (Photo credit: nrcassam.nic.in)
NRC Seva Kendra (Photo credit: nrcassam.nic.in)

NRC is a document containing the names of Indian citizens prepared in 1951. The ongoing NRC update process in Assam will enlist the names of genuine citizens based on NRC 1951 and electoral rolls up to midnight of March 24, 1971.

The representatives of the students’ body urged the RG to adopt several steps to make the process smoother for the common people. “We want the updating process of NRC to be smooth. We always welcome the updating of NRC but it has to be done in a way so that the common people find it easier. As we have noticed a few anomalies in the procedure, we are putting down a few points for kind consideration of RG and his necessary action,” Azizur Rahman, AAMSU general secretary, said after submitting a memorandum to the RG Census.

The memorandum said that the copies of NRC, 1951 and all the Electoral Rolls published up to the midnight of March 24, 1971 of all villages of Assam – which are termed as Legacy Data – have not been published and made available at village level as of now even after specific direction by the Supreme Court (vide Order dated 16.07.2013 passed in WP(C) No-274/2009), the memorandum said.

The authority has established respective NRC Seva Kendra (NSK) for 10,000 populations at village level for NRC process but these documents are not yet made available, it added.

“Therefore the copies of said NRC, 1951 and all Electoral Rolls published up to the midnight of March 24, 1971 should be made available at village level prior to distribution of application forms for greater convenience of the people,” Rahman said.

The AAMSU has also appealed to increase the number of Seva Kendras across the state. Altogether 2500 NSKs have been established throughout the state for functioning of ongoing NRC process. Each NSK is covering two or more Gaon Panchayats (each Gaon Panchayat consists of more than 10 villages and more than 14,000 populations in average).

“We feel that at least two NSKs should be established in each Gaon Panchayat area for greater convenience of the general people and smooth function of the ongoing process,” he said.


A public awareness programme  (Photo credit: nrcassam.nic.in)
A public awareness programme (Photo credit: nrcassam.nic.in)

The students’ body has also requested the RG to better the process for obtaining linkage certificates for married women to be made easier as such the certificates shall be issued by respective Government Gaonbhura (Village Headman) which will be verified /countersigned by the Gaon Panchayat Secretary (Government Official) for the convenience of general people.

Besides, many others also have been demanding that the process should be flawless.

“It is true that the political parties will try their best to get benefit from the ongoing NRC updation process. Already there is mud-slinging between Congress and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF). BJP is also trying to be the saviour of the Bengali Hindus. We want a correct NRC. The people of the Char-Chapori, though sons of the soil, have been humiliated, killed, tortured in the name of Bangladeshi. We are no longer willing to bear this. So, anyone who wants to stop the process is our enemy,” said Hafiz Ahmed, president of Char Chapori Sahitya Parishad (CCSP).

Related:

Efforts and appeal for making NRC update smooth in Assam

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