Bid to end NPR logjam
SHILLONG: The East Khasi Hills district administration has suggested KSU and FKJGP to come up with an action plan to address their various concerns pertaining to preparation of the National Population Register (NPR).
“We have suggested the two pressure groups to come up with an action plan so that we can reach an agreement on preparation of the NPR,” said Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal after a meeting with the members of both the FKJGP and KSU here on Wednesday.
Referring to concerns expressed by the two pressure groups and traditional heads on this issue, he said, “I will like to make it clear that the registration of a person in the NPR does not grant him or her citizenship.”
He, however, asserted that the implementation of the NPR project is mandatory and added that the administration has to find a way out since it cannot put this in limbo for a long time.
“The NPR project provides access to various government services and schemes through Aadhar — unique identification number (UID),” Goyal said.
The Deputy Commissioner informed that he had written a letter to the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong to deliberate on this matter.
“We are yet to get a response from their side,” he said.
The KSU general secretary Auguster Jyrwa, meanwhile, said that his organization would soon be meeting the Rangbah Shnong to know their mind on this matter.
He said that the Deputy Commissioner wanted to execute the project at the earliest. He informed that they had suggested the State Government to request the Centre to amend some of the provisions of the project so that it could be implemented in the State. “We are all aware that Meghalaya shares a border with Bangladesh and Assam, there are strong possibilities that people from outside who enter into the State might manage to register themselves and get the permanent Indian citizenship,” he said.
