Citizenship of India and the Documentation crisis
The National Register of Citizens is a process to detect illegal immigrants in Assam. A foreigner without valid papers entering and residing in the state will not be included in the register that is being updated. Thus, no longer a citizen of India. Now whose citizens are they? Can they all be linked to Bangladesh? This article will attempt to give an understanding on why it would be risky to associate all those left out of the NRC to Bangladesh.
Assam is a North eastern state of India, situated south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. This region has been a significant destination for those looking for economic opportunities -for both trade and agricultural purposes. Thus attracting populations from across the region.
Internal migration or Inter-state migration has pulled several for decades. However, they have lacked the knowledge to enroll themselves as residents of the state. Many do not know the right procedures to obtain a new ration card, a basic card to prove citizenship at the destination.
With the new attempt to trace ‘foreigners’ in the state of Assam, it is very likely that many internal migrants , may not be able to prove their identity due to the lack any effective policy or credible data on internal migrants especially distress migrants. Both, Census and NSS that have a serious impact on policy making are unable to capture seasonal and circular migrant population.
This raises questions on how the NCR would be able to trace and distinguish these residents from the ‘foreigners’ who do not have sufficient documents to prove their citizenship.
If the language would be the only criterion to establish foreigners or illegal migrants, it would with no doubt be adding fuel to the fire of communal politics and sub nationalism.
Whose fault is it now? The state for not having a proper mechanism and having failed to document those who entered the state before 24 March 1971 or the people who do not have any or only inadequate paper work to prove their entry into the state?