How Assam Government Establishes Digital Database

 

- Malavika Sacchdeva

Assam has been facing the problem of illegal migrants from Bangladesh for a very long time. So it became important to curb this problem. The government wanted to identify the citizens of India to stop illegal migrants from coming into India. To tackle this problem, the government began the national Register of Citizen (NRC). Hence it became imperative on the part of citizens of India in Assam to ensure inclusion of his/her name in the updated NRC (national Register of Citizen). The NRC is the register containing details of all Indian citizens. It is believed that it is the only way to stop illegal immigrants.

The first NRC was prepared in 1951, by recording details of people included in that year’s Census. It is being updated only in Assam, to comply with Assam Accord which was signed in 1985 by Rajiv Gandhi and leaders of Assam movement against migrants from Bangladesh.To apply for inclusion in the NRC, one’s name or ancestor’s name must be there in the 1951 NRC or in any voter list up to the midnight of March 24, 1971. If the applicant’s name is not on any of these lists, he can produce any of the 12 other documents including land records, refugee registration certificate, birth certificate, and educational certificate, passport, etc.

Moreover, as per Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 those who came from Bangladesh between 1966 and 1971 will have to register themselves with the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, and will be included in the NRC, but will not have voting rights for 10 years from the date of registration.

Section 6A and Section 3 of the Act, which provides citizenship by birth in contravention of the Assam Accord have been challenged in the Supreme Court. People who have been declared doubtful voters can also apply but their names will be included only after being cleared by the Foreigners Tribunal.

BOHNIMAN SYSTEMS HELPS GOVERNMENT IN MAKING NRC DIGITALIZED