SHILLONG, Nov 10 - Assam Government officials faced some awkward moments here when a law student said she was denied a Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC) by the State Government, although she is a fourth generation citizen of Assam of Bengalee origin.
Terming the repeated denial of the PRC as a violation of her human rights, Ranjana Dey from Digboi raised the issue in the open forum after Mahananda Hazarika, secretary Home and Political department, Assam, gave a presentation on human rights scenario in the State. Hazarika gave the presentation at the concluding day of the Human Rights regional workshop on the theme: �good governance, development and human rights�, here recently.
�I was repeatedly denied a PRC by authorities in Assam and as a result I had to miss out on a hostel accommodation in New Delhi to pursue my studies,� Dey said. The student added that her family, despite having documents to prove that they have been residing in Assam for four generations have been denied registration in the National Register of Citizens.
�Our family members worked for Oil India Limited. My grandfather has an Indian Passport. We have land documents to prove. We were interviewed. What else is required? Why are the authorities in Assam Government refusing to register our family in the NRC,� she asked.
Hazarika was taken aback by the questions and said that she can meet him in Guwahati with her �personal grievances� and things could be sorted out.
However, Dey said she was not speaking for her family alone, but also speaking on behalf of many more families like hers facing similar human right violations, despite being law abiding citizens of Assam. �NRC is a complicated issue. The issue of citizenship in Assam is rather complex,� Hazarika said while assuring all assistance to Dey.
