Reassurances provide little consolation to those left out of NRC

GUWAHATI: Despite a publicity blitzkrieg by the National Register of Citizens (NRC) directorate that those who were left out of the final draft NRC could still hope for redressal, many of them are still worried.

Several people who could not figure in the draft NRC refused to share their names or allow themselves to be photographed for fear they will be singled out and targeted later. Around 40 lakh people could not make it to draft NRC published last month.

Subash Barman, a resident in Choudharypara and Lamgaon village, around 50 km away from Guwahati in Kamrup said, “Some people are worried and do not like to talk about NRC for their name is not there.”


He explained that people even do not want to be photographed for they fear it would be used against them.

Manik Ghosh, a resident of Ulubari in Guwahati has gone to Dharmanagarh in Tripura to bring more documents which can prove his legacy for he could not find his name in the draft NRC.

Ghosh told ET, “Though I do not know what more documents will be required, I am going to bring some more documents like certificate from the school where I studied. I will be ready before the claim and objection process starts.”

The process for filing claim and objection will start from August 30 and last till September 28.

The Bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Rohinton Nariman ordered the government, in consultation with State NRC Coordinator Prateek Hajela, to frame a ‘fair’ standard operating procedure (SOP) to deal with the claims and objections of those who did not find their names in the draft NRC.

The government is expected to submit in court on August 16 details of the SOP. Already Assam government has given its views on the SOP to the Centre. On Sunday the council of ministers in Assam deliberated on the issue.

Meanwhile security forces will continue with the alert and heightened security arrangement. In the run up to NRC publication Centre has sent 150 companies of Central para military force (CPMF). These additional companies will continue to be deployed.

Pallab Bhattacharyya, Special Director General of Police (Special branch) told ET, “Till now the entire process has been peaceful. We will continue with the heightened security arrangement for the process of claim and objections will begin shortly.”

He added, “ Different organisations and Deputy Commissioners are carrying out the reach out programme and this has helped us.