Assam cabinet decides to introduce stricter checks for Aadhaar: Himanta Sarma

Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the regulation won’t apply to people from other states residing in Assam in connection with their work

Published on: Dec 11, 2024, 21:36:46 IST

By Utpal Parashar

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

GUWAHATI: The Assam cabinet on Wednesday decided to strengthen the verification process for Aadhaar cards and approve applications filed by people who have applied for inclusion in the National Register of Citizens.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma (PTI FILE PHOTO)

“If someone or their parents had not applied for inclusion in NRC, their Aadhaar applications would be rejected. For those applicants who are found to have applied for inclusion in NRC there would be a field verification of their antecedents before an Aadhaar card is provided to them,” chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Wednesday after a meeting of the state cabinet.

Sarma first announced the proposed change in September this year.

After the cabinet meeting on Wednesday, he said,’ “For the past two months, many Bangladeshi nationals (who illegally entered India) have been nabbed by Border Security Force (BSF) and police…. These infiltrators have become a matter of concern and hence we have decided to take more steps to stop the trend”.

“In line with that, the state cabinet today decided to make the state-level verification process for (fresh) Aadhar card applicants stricter. From now the general administration department will be the nodal agency for state-level verification,” he added.

The chief minister said in each district, an additional deputy commissioner will oversee the verification process. Circle officers will be responsible for checking whether fresh Aadhar applicants or their immediate relatives have applied for inclusion in NRC.

Sarma said that the regulation won’t apply to people from other states who are residing in Assam in connection with their work. But physical verification of their documents would be conducted.

“With these measures, we will be able to strengthen the Aadhar card delivery process and also ensure that no person whose citizenship is under doubt can get the important identity document easily,” he said.

The final draft of NRC for Assam, released in August 2019, left out 1.9 million of the total 33 million applicants. The Registrar General of India (RGI) is yet to notify the updated NRC and the number of petitions opposing the draft or seeking its review are pending at present in Supreme Court.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

National Register Of Citizens

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.