GUWAHATI: In a significant development, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a crackdown on Aadhaar cardholders who haven't applied for inclusion and are not listed in the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Authorities will identify such individuals to tackle illegal infiltration.
The NRC process in Assam was paused earlier due to concerns over fabricated documents and corruption. The Assam Cabinet made it mandatory for Aadhaar applicants to show proof of NRC application in December 2024. Sarma highlighted districts like Barpeta, Dhubri, Nagaon, and Morigaon, where Aadhaar holders exceeded projected population figures.
In Barpeta, Aadhaar coverage stood at 103.74%. The government will exempt 9.52 lakh individuals whose biometrics were frozen during the NRC process and tea plantation workers who faced difficulties accessing NRC application facilities. The Assam government’s move signals a renewed effort to tackle suspected illegal migration and tighten documentation controls across the state.
Meanwhile, in the first four months of this year, over 11,000 ration cards in Assam were deleted (cancelled), and the cardholders were stopped from receiving items under the public distribution system (PDS). The cards consist of two types-Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH)-under the National Food Security Act.
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