Laggard States hitting NRC update

Nearly 60% of verification work over, 14 document forgery cases registered

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, April 19: Assam is not getting the desired response from neighboring states as well as other states across the country in the process to update the tiol Register for Citizens (NRC).

When people in Assam submitted forms for inclusion into NRC, they enclosed legacy documents to prove their legacy data. The government received 6.6 crore documents, out of which some were issued outside Assam. In order to verify these documents, they were sent to the issuing states to ensure that no one makes it to the NRC with forged documents. However, the NRC authority has not received any positive response from those states. This is a cause of concern as without verification of the documents, the updation process cannot be taken further — as revealed by State NRC Coorditor Prateek Hazela.

He also informed that the Assam government has requested the concerned states to cooperate in the verification process to ensure that no foreigner makes it to the NRC, but to no avail.

Talking to The Sentinel, State coorditor Prateek Hazela said, “We are committed to give a foreigner-free NRC. So, verification of the documents is very important. The documents which were issued within Assam are being verified and almost 60 per cent of the work has been completed. Due to the assembly elections, the process slowed down a bit as the deputy commissioners and circle officers were busy with the elections. However, now the NRC updation work is being given utmost priority.”

About forged documents, Hazela said, “Doubtful individuals will be cross-checked and documents will be re-verified. If the outcome is still not found to be satisfactory, legal action will be initiated.”

“We have requested the other states concerned to cooperate in order to speed up the verification process, as without it, it is not possible to bring out the NRC. We hope they will respond soon,” Hazela added. The State NRC Coorditor also informed that if the current pace continues, it will take 2-3 months more to bring out the draft NRC. 

Already 14 cases have been registered regarding submission of forged documents with NRC forms. The cases have been registered in lbari, Barpeta, Karimganj, Hailakandi and gaon districts.