Assam NRC final list: 40 lakh people left off, now what
New Delhi : The Assam government has announced the second and final list of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) today. The first NRC list was published on December 31, 2017 and enlisted over 1.9 crore names out of the 3.9 crore people who had filed applications. The final list, however, excluded around 40 lakh people from the state. People whose name has not been listed are in panic situation.
Conversely, the State NRC officials have assured that those not included in the list will not be sent to detention centres. Home Minister Rajnath Singh said those excluded from the list can approach the foreigner's tribunal. "No coercive action will be taken against anyone, hence there is no need for anyone to panic," he said.
"Some people are unnecessarily trying to create an atmosphere of fear. This is a completely impartial report. No misinformation should be spread. This is a draft and not the final list," Singh added.
Applicants can check for their names online or at NRC sewa kendras (NSK).
The final NRC list contains names, addresses and photographs of all citizens of the state residing in Assam before March 25, 1971. It also includes names from the NRC list of 1951.
What is the NRC?
The NRC is way to keep record of all legal citizens of a state. Initiated in 1951 along with the first census, the NRC takes into consideration things like property owned and houses in every village in the state and the number of people residing in them. The records were kept safe by local government officers and police was assigned the responsibility of handling them.
What happens now to those who are not enlisted in NRC final draft list?
Around 40 lakh people have been left out from the final list of NRC. However, state NRC officials have clarified that those excluded will not be sent to detention centres, neither will they need to appeal before the Foreigner’s Tribunal at this point, since it’s a draft and not the final list.
During a press meet, registrar general and census commissioner of India, Sailesh, stated that those who find themselves excluded from the final list but were included in the first list will be given an individual letter to file claim for her/his non-inclusion.
Officials have stated that authorities will start receiving applications for claims and objections to the list from August 30.
