Partial draft NRC published

FIRST STEP TO SAFEGUARD ASSAMESE IDENTITY

*    Part draft contains 1.9 crore mes of a total 3.29 crore of applicants

*    Remaining mes are at various stages of verification

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Dec 31: The partial draft of the tiol Register of Citizens (NRC) that has been published around midnight of the first day of the New Year-2018 will contain the verified mes of 1.90 crore applicants only. There were altogether 3.29 crore of applicants. The mes of the remaining applicants are at various stages of verification. This was stated by the Registrar General of India (RGI), Shailesh, at a press conference in the office of the State Co-orditor of NRC, Bhangagarh here. The RGI further said that the remaining part of the NRC will be carried out as an ongoing process. He also stated that the details of the part draft NRC would be intimidated to the apex Court. Speaking to the media persons, State NRC Co-orditor Prateek Hajela expressed his gratitude to the people at large for the cooperation and support in carrying out this historic process. Hajela further assured that there is no need for the people to panic. He also added that the mes of others are under various stages of verification. 

Probably for the first time in Assam’s history, the New Year’s celebrations were overshadowed by an issue very close to the heart of every Assamese people. The issue is safeguarding their identity, culture, land and resources.

Bringing the curtain down amidst New Year’s revelry the NRC authorities has published the much-awaited publication of the draft of updated NRC. Publication of the partial draft NRC on the expiry of December 31 midnight is a step forward towards making a document containing mes of genuine Indian citizens under the supervision of Supreme Court with an aim to detect illegal Bangladeshi migrants staying in Assam over the years.

Publication of the partial draft NRC has come more than 12 years after the then UPA Government at the Centre decided to update the NRC of 1951. The Supreme Court last month asked the NRC authorities to publish the partial draft NRC covering 2.38 crore applicants.

State Coorditor Prateek Hajela said there is simply no reason for anyone to worry if his or her me is not included in the first part draft of NRC as everyone will get an opportunity to file their claims and objections. The process will be notified at a later date after the second and fil NRC draft is published, he explained.

Hajela said the second and fil draft of NRC will be published at a later date to be determined by the Supreme Court. And those whose mes have not featured in the first part draft also need not worry as they will get opportunity to file their claims and objections, whose dates will be announced once the second and fil draft NRC is published.

Sources told The Sentinel  that 95 per cent out of the total number NRC applications in Sivasagar district has been covered under the part draft NRC followed by 75 per cent in Kamrup Metro, 70 plus per cent in Kamrup, 50 per cent in Morigaon, 40 per cent in Darrang and about 39 per cent in Barpeta. There were 10 lakhs NRC applicants in Kamrup metro,16 lakhs in Kamrup, 6.28 lakh in Sivasagar and 10 lakh plus in Darrang.   

Hard copies of NRC will be available in NRC seva kendras (NSKs), besides being available online at www.nrcassam.nic.in, www.assam.mygov.in, www.assamgov.in and www.homeandpolitical.assam.gov.in. Individuals can also check their mes in the first part draft of NRC by typing ARN (space) 21-digit ARN on their mobile phones and sending an SMS to any of these numbers: 97655 56555, 91084 64438 and 91084 64450. The ARN is the 21-digit number that was given to individuals upon submitting application for NRC.

Meanwhile, both the Centre and State government have mobilized their entire administrative mechanism to ensure a foolproof security in the State. A total 85 companies of Central armed police forces (CAPF) are already there in the State, to augment the security apparatus.

Director General of Police Mukesh Sahay told The Sentinel that adequate forces have been deployed to prevent any untoward incident. He warned that any person or organisation indulging in mischief like inciting others to create troubles will be taken to task.

There are approximately 2,500 NSKs across the State, and 800 of these have been identified as sensitive by the government. Security forces have mounted a special vigil on such NSKs. Printed copies of the draft NRC will be available with NSKs from 8 am on Monday. The draft NRC will not have photos of applicants. Photos will be printed in the fil NRC.