Community Meeting on Final Draft National Register of Citizens in Kokrajhar

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KOKRAJHAR: A community level meeting on the final draft NRC published on July 30 was held at Basic Training Centre, Kokrajhar on Friday to clear doubt to the genuine Indian citizens whose names did figure in the final draft.

Organized by Kokrajhar Revenue Circle, the meeting was attended by Kokrajhar Circle Officer, Dipen Barman, chairman of Kokrajhar Municipal Board (KMB), Bishnu Narzary, village headmen, Village Council Development Committee (VCDC) chairmen, senior citizens and public. In the meeting Kokrajhar Circle Officer Dipen Barman informed the gathering that the applicants, whose names didn’t figure in the list, would be given ample opportunity through a process of claims and objections till September 28, and their citizenship status will not be questioned till the final NRC is published. Barman said those whose names are not in the draft will get the opportunity with adequate time to establish their citizenship claim. People who lack knowledge would be provided assistance. He also said the NRC was being updated under the Supreme Court’s supervision with March 24, 1971 as the cut-off date for genuine Indian citizens in Assam and so there is nothing to fear for the genuine citizens as those left out of the register would still be able to appeal and present objections.

Chairman of Kokrajhar Municipal Board Bishnu Narzary in his speech said the administration was always there to guide and help the people. The NRC draft published on July 30 last figured the names of 2 crore 89 lakh 83 thousand 677 citizens of the State. A total of 3 crore 29 lakh 91 thousand and 384 persons had applied for inclusion of their names in the NRC. Names of 40 lakh 7 thousand and 707 people have not been included in the draft.