NGO seeks NHRC intervention for citizenship to left out enclave dwellers

Alleging that some erstwhile Indian enclave dwellers from Bangladesh are still being deprived of their basic human and citizenship rights, an NGO on Friday sought the intervention of National Human Rights Commission to facilitate granting of Indian citizenship to them.

AIn a letter to the National Human Rights Commission chief, secretary of MASUMA Kirity Roy complained about "flaws" in the process of headcount by both the Indian and the Bangladesh Governments and "exclusion of a section of dwellers from the process".

"This exclusion is depriving them from opting for their future inhabitation. Moreover till now not a single headcount report has been published in public domain," Roy said.

After Indian parliament passed the 119th Constitutional Amendment to provide the erstwhile enclave dwellers a right to choose their future habitat, as many as 918 people accepted Indian citizenship and moved to their motherland from enclaves in Bangladesh.

The letter claimed that there are several others who wish to settle in India and have sent the necessary applications to the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh and the District Magistrate of Cooch Behar.

However, their wish fell into deaf ears as they failed to apply "during the stipulated time due to various reasons".

Roy in the missive attached details of four families from erstwhile the enclave of Dasiarchhara, who applied late but showed "their intention to get Indian citizenship."

"I earnestly request the Commission to direct the relevant authority to facilitate the granting of Indian citizenship of these persons and their flawless entry into their motherland," he added.

--IANS

mgr/ssp/vd