Citizens body meets Cachar DC, submits memo to MHA

Silchar, Feb 17: The Citizen Rights Protection Coordition Committee (CRPCC) of Assam, a frontline organization initiated by the Citizens Rights Preservation Committee, as part of its activity submitted a memorandum regarding discrimition on preparation and update process of NRC in Assam to Minister of Home Affairs Rajth Singh through Deputy Commissioner of Cachar Dr S Lakshman at his office on Saturday.

The CRPCC comprises 43 numbers of various social, cultural, civil societies, organizations representing most of the communities of Barak Valley as well as representation from Brahmaputra Valley. This coordition committee has been initiated to take necessary steps for the protection of the rights of the citizens in the State. 

The exclusion of mes of a large number of bo fide Indian citizens as well as partial inclusion of members of families in the first NRC draft have anguished many. They strongly opposed the arbitrary and selective inclusion or exclusion in the draft NRC and also feel betrayed as a large number of people have been excluded in Barak Valley and lower Assam, in comparison to the districts of upper Assam. 

 Some of the demands and suggestions  of the CRPCC include correct update process of NRC, inclusion of all citizens without any discrimition, consideration of bo fide citizens of India as per Indian Evidence Act, empowerment of NSKs, delegation of NRC authority’s power to LRCR, consideration of citizenship beyond doubts to those who have been availing the constitutiol and fundamental rights since long, amendment of the existing law and empowering NSKs to consult the applicants concerned to explain any question pertaining to family tree. It suggested that for any doubt on family tree, applicants concerned are contacted to explain relations, in case it is not clear to the NRC officers. Moreover, the organization also suggested that while preparing the second draft, special care has to be taken in including mes of women and children in every part of Assam, especially in Barak Valley and lower Assam.

 As stated in the memorandum, a child born after 2003, the rule is that one of the parents should be an Indian citizen, while the other should not be an illegal migrant during the time of the birth of the child. The rule is specific if one of the parents has valid documents to enter India and the other is an Indian citizen, the child, born after 2003 is a citizen by birth. After proper verification of Panchayat certificates for proving linkage, in case of any doubt other circumstantial evidence be allowed and opportunity be given to applicants concerned to clear all doubts.  The Deputy Commissioner assured that necessary steps would be taken in this regard. He said that everyone desires for an error free NRC list and that no stones will be left unturned in this matter.