GUWAHATI, March 30 � The Government of India has agreed to allow use of the electoral rolls up to the midnight of March 24, 1971 as the base for updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam. This was disclosed by the Minister in charge of Assam Accord Implementation, Dr Bhumidhar Barman in the State Assembly today.
Dr Barman said that earlier, the Centre had allowed use of the electoral rolls prior to 1971 for updating the NRC, but the State Government objected to the same. He said that the fresh order of the Centre was received by the State Government only last evening.
Meanwhile, in a written reply to a question by Girindra Kumar Baruah (AGP), Dr Barman gave an account of implementation of the Assam Accord and admitted that all the clauses of the Accord are yet to be implemented. He said that certain clauses of the Accord including detection and deportation are continuous processes.
Dr Barman said that the process of data entry for updating the NRC is almost complete, while, the number of tribunals under the Foreigners� Act has been increased to 36. He said that because of shortage of judges in the tribunals, the government has decided to increase the retirement age of the judges to 67 and requested the Centre to allow appointment of judicial officers as judges of the tribunals.
The Minister informed the House that during the period from 1985 to January this year, 1.56 lakh cases were registered in the tribunals and 47,000 of those cases were disposed of. He said that 16,919 people were given quit India notices and the notices were implemented in case of only 758 persons. During the same period, 1,428 re-infiltrators were detected and deported, he added.
Regarding implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, the Minister said that the group of Ministers constituted to determine the definition of �Assamese people� is yet to submit its report. He said that the Centre released Rs 3.33 crore for implementation of film city project in Jyoti Chitraban studio while, a scheme has been prepared for the protection of the satras. A proposal has been submitted to the Centre for the setting up of media archives and reference library and the Jawaharlal Nehru University has decided to install an Assamese chair.
Regarding implementation of Clause 7 of the Accord, the Minister referred to the Numaligarh Refinery and the progress of work of the Gas Cracker project and Bogibeel bridge and said that Hindustan Paper Corporation has been entrusted with the responsibility of preparing the detailed project report for revival of the Ashok Paper Mill. Steps have been initiated for creation of North East Water Resources Authority, while, Guwahati Medical College Hospital is being upgraded into a super speciality hospital with a cost of Rs119.95 crore. The State Government has also constituted an employment generation mission.
