AIZAWL, Nov 27 - The youth wing of the Zoram People�s Movement (ZPM) today met Mizoram Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai and requested him to give his assent to the Mizoram Maintenance of Household Registers Bill (MMHRB), 2019.
The Bill, which provides for a NRC-like exercise in Mizoram, was passed in the State Assembly on March 18 this year and is currently awaiting the Governor�s assent.
Assam Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi was in charge of Mizoram when the Bill was passed.
�In order to check influx of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, we request you to kindly give your assent to the Mizoram Maintenance of Household Registers Bill, 2019, which was unanimously passed by the Mizoram Legislative Assembly on March 18, 2019,� the ZPM�s youth wing said in a memorandum submitted to the Governor.
The Bill seeks to create a register containing the names and details, including photographs, of every resident of the State in order to detect foreigners illegally staying in Mizoram.
The Governor, however, is yet to give his assent to turn the Bill into an Act even eight months after it was passed in the House.
As Mizoram shares border with Myanmar and Bangladesh, illegal influx of foreigners into the State through the porous border has remained a serious concern for several decades.
The large-scale influx of foreigners and their assimilation with the permanent residents have led to an �abnormal increase in the population� of the State and poses a law-and-order threat.
The Bill aims to create and maintain a comprehensive database of residents, which will also help in arresting slippage of benefits of development schemes to ineligible persons.
To check influx of foreigners, the ZPM Youth urged the Governor to strengthen border security. The ZPM Youth also urged the Governor to develop trade ties with Bangladesh and Myanmar.
On repatriation of Bru refugees, it said that �since most of them do not wish to come back to Mizoram, arrangements should be made for their permanent settlement in Tripura.�
The ZPM Youth also requested the Governor to find a permanent solution to the vexed boundary dispute with Assam.
