Mizoram decides to collect biometrics, biographic data of Myanmar refugees
Mizoram
government has decided to collect biometrics and biographic data of Myanmar refugees taking shelter in the northeastern state after a military coup in the neighboring country in February 2021. Earlier, Manipur had carried out this exercise.
A Mizoram Home Department official, who did not want to be named, told ET, 'Towards the end of July, the work of collecting biometric and demographic data of around 35,000 Myanmar refugees would start. The biometric exercise would be conducted using the Foreigner Identification Portal and would be carried out in all 11 districts of the state."
He added, 'Around Rs 38 lakh was earmarked for the exercise, and the expenditure would be borne by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Training of the government staff to conduct the exercise has almost been completed in all the districts."
The MHA had earlier asked both the Manipur and Mizoram governments to capture biographic and biometric details of "illegal migrants" in the two states and complete the process at the earliest.
Both northeastern states had earlier agreed to undertake the collection of biometrics and biographic data of Myanmar nationals. The former Mizo National Front government in Mizoram was reluctant to collect the biometrics and biographic data of Myanmar refugees.
The incumbent Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) government, led by Chief Minister Lalduhoma, had earlier agreed to conduct the exercise. After a military coup in Myanmar in February 2021, refugees, including women and children from the neighboring country, started coming to Mizoram and Manipur seeking shelter in the two Indian states, and now their numbers in Mizoram have increased to around 35,000.
According to Home Department officials, the maximum number of Myanmar refugees are currently taking shelter in Champhai district. Myanmar's Chin state shares mountainous borders with six Mizoram districts—Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip. Recently, a fresh batch of refugees has started coming since July 2.
Gun battles have erupted between the Chin National Defence Force and the Chinland Defence Force-Hualngoram over control of Chin state in Myanmar. A senior official, who does not want to be named, said that around 3,000 to 4,000 refugees had come since the fighting started on July 2.
'They are being provided with food, water, and shelter.'
Refugees are coming to Zokhawthar and Saikhumphai Village, bordering Myanmar in Champhai district.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
7 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Govt will not tolerate violence in the name of language dispute: CM
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said violence in the name of language dispute will not be tolerated and dealt firmly. 'There is no dispute between Hindi and Marathi. While one should be proud of Marathi, which is not only the mother tongue of Marathi people but also a classical language, one cannot ignore other Indian languages,' said Fadnavis during a speech at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. The Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Special Centre for Security and Strategic Studies, planned under the School of International Studies which aims to explore war strategy and traditions based on the Maratha empire. The centre is going to become the study centre of military history, strategy and future policy development rooted in India's past. Shortly after his arrival, the Student Federation of India (SFI) protested over the Maharashtra Special Security Bill and growing instances of attack against non-Marathi residents (North Indians and others) in several parts of the state and failure of the government to deal with it effectively. In response to the protest, Chief Minister Fadnavis said, 'There is nothing wrong in insisting on Marathi language in Maharashtra. At the same time, there should be no disregard for other Indian languages. Violence of any kind in the name of language dispute cannot be tolerated. Wherever such instances occurred, strong action has been taken. And if it reoccurs, it will be firmly dealt with.' 'Marathi is a culturally rich language that was accorded the status of a 'classical language' by the Narendra Modi government. There is nothing wrong with having pride in Marathi language. The issue here is not about Marathi vs Hindi. What needs to be understood is that along with Marathi, one should also respect other Indian languages. As someone just mentioned, Tamil is also historically and culturally a very rich language. The Chola dynasty ruled for a thousand years and there is a huge history which we cannot overlook,' said Fadnavis. Referring to the visionary king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Fadnavis said, 'Shivaji Maharaj has never taught us to be narrow minded. With limited resources and manpower, he defeated the mighty Mughal army through his strategic ruler Aurangzeb was finished and his 'kabar' built but Shivaji's 'swaraj' lived eternally.' The Kusumagraj centre at JNU will offer postgraduate and certificate-level programmes to promote multilingualism and cultural understanding. Under this, MA in Marathi and certificate courses to go with the NEP for non-Marathi speakers will be offered.
Time of India
7 minutes ago
- Time of India
India-UK FTA to pave way for transborder telecom operations in non-discriminatory manner
India and the UK have signed a telecom deal as part of their free trade agreement, granting non-discriminatory market access for telecom services. This move could potentially lead to Indian telecom operators expanding into the UK market. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Delhi: India and the UK have signed a deal, as part of the free trade agreement ( FTA ), to allow non-discriminatory access of each other's market for telecom services -- a move that may pave the way for a potential expansion of services by Indian telecom operators in the United pact, officially called the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), has included provisions on mobile number portability in their territory as well."Each party shall ensure that a service supplier of the other party is accorded access to and use of any public telecommunications network or service, including leased circuits, offered in its territory or across its borders on a timely basis and on reasonable, transparent and non-discriminatory terms and conditions," the agreement Vodafone had full-fledged operations in India with 100 owned subsidiaries before its merger with Idea Cellular . However, no Indian telecom operator has ever entered the UK telecom agreement between the two countries has provision for spectrum allocation, interconnection, etc, to the transborder service providers."Each party retains the right to establish and apply spectrum and frequency management policies which may affect the number of suppliers of public telecommunications networks or services, provided that it does so in a manner that is consistent with this agreement. Each party also retains the right to allocate frequency bands taking into account current and future needs and spectrum availability," the agreement agreement calls for radio spectrum allocation -- in an open and transparent process -- to players from other countries for public telecommunications services that is in public interest and promotes agreement talks about allowing major telecom operators to ensure non-discriminatory access to its various resources to the operator from other markets in a manner it would have allowed access to its subsidiary."Each party shall ensure that a major supplier in its territory accords suppliers of public telecommunications networks or services of the other party treatment no less favourable than major supplier accords in like circumstances to itself, its subsidiaries, its affiliates, or any non-affiliated supplier of public telecommunications networks or services regarding," the agreement said.
Economic Times
7 minutes ago
- Economic Times
India-UK FTA to pave way for transborder telecom operations in non-discriminatory manner
Representational New Delhi: India and the UK have signed a deal, as part of the free trade agreement (FTA), to allow non-discriminatory access of each other's market for telecom services -- a move that may pave the way for a potential expansion of services by Indian telecom operators in the United Kingdom. The pact, officially called the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), has included provisions on mobile number portability in their territory as well. "Each party shall ensure that a service supplier of the other party is accorded access to and use of any public telecommunications network or service, including leased circuits, offered in its territory or across its borders on a timely basis and on reasonable, transparent and non-discriminatory terms and conditions," the agreement said. UK's Vodafone had full-fledged operations in India with 100 owned subsidiaries before its merger with Idea Cellular. However, no Indian telecom operator has ever entered the UK market. The telecom agreement between the two countries has provision for spectrum allocation, interconnection, etc, to the transborder service providers. "Each party retains the right to establish and apply spectrum and frequency management policies which may affect the number of suppliers of public telecommunications networks or services, provided that it does so in a manner that is consistent with this agreement. Each party also retains the right to allocate frequency bands taking into account current and future needs and spectrum availability," the agreement said. The agreement calls for radio spectrum allocation -- in an open and transparent process -- to players from other countries for public telecommunications services that is in public interest and promotes competition. The agreement talks about allowing major telecom operators to ensure non-discriminatory access to its various resources to the operator from other markets in a manner it would have allowed access to its subsidiary. "Each party shall ensure that a major supplier in its territory accords suppliers of public telecommunications networks or services of the other party treatment no less favourable than major supplier accords in like circumstances to itself, its subsidiaries, its affiliates, or any non-affiliated supplier of public telecommunications networks or services regarding," the agreement said.
