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Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Refugee biometric enrolment in Mizoram moves at snail's pace
1 2 Aizawl: Biometric enrolment of refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh using the 'Foreigners Identification Portal & Biometric Enrolment (FIP&BE)' has been proceeding at a sluggish pace in all 11 districts of Mizoram, with biometric data of only 1,075 refugees collected till Wednesday evening, state home department officials said on Thursday. The biometric enrolment exercise commenced from the last week of July, with the first district beginning on July 28, and the majority of the districts starting on July 30 and July 31. Currently, around 32,000 refugees from Myanmar and over 2,000 refugees from Bangladesh are taking shelter in the state. While Myanmar refugees are taking shelter in all the 11 districts, those from Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh are taking refuge mainly in Lawngtlai district of southern Mizoram, bordering both Myanmar and Bangladesh, adjoining Lunglei district and Thenzawl town of central Mizoram's Serchhip district. Over 2,000 refugees from Bangladesh are housed in Lawngtlai district, 266 in Thenzawl town, and 63 in Khawmawi village of Lunglei district. A meeting of the Lunglei District Level Committee on Myanmar & Bangladesh Refugees on Thursday was informed that more biometric enrolment equipment needs to be procured, as 816 refugees are living as guests with their relatives and friends as well as renting houses in scattered locations. Additionally, 1,175 refugees are lodged in nine relief camps in Lunglei district. Officials from several districts said the teams collecting biometric data have been facing different impediments, including technical snag, due to problems in electronic equipment and internet connection in remote villages. "It is relatively easier to collect data in relief camps, but takes time to collect it from the refugees who are living with their relatives and friends," an official in Lawngtlai district said. Officials of Champhai district, which borders Myanmar and hosts the largest number of Myanmar refugees (over 13,500), could not make much progress till Wednesday since they began the exercise on July 31. The officials could collect biometric data of only seven persons due to technical problems in their electronic equipment. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and s ilver prices in your area.
Hindustan Times
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Mizoram begins biometric enrolment drive for Myanmar refugees in Serchhip district
AIZAWL: The Mizoram government began its biometric enrolment drive for Myanmar refugees in Serchhip district on Wednesday, the first attempt by the state government to issue identification documents to the refugees. The District Level Committee on Displaced Persons meeting on July 11 in Serchhip had discussed Biometric Enrolment of Displaced Persons through Foreigner's Identification Portal for refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh. Sixteen Myanmarese nationals residing in Chanmari locality of Serchhip town were enrolled during the session, said Serchhip district nodal officer for Foreigners Identification Portal & Biometric Enrolment, Vanthangpuia. 'This is the first biometric enrolment drive in the entire state, and Chanmari was chosen for its smaller refugee population to facilitate a practical, on-the-spot session for officials,' Vanthangpuia told HT, adding that a comprehensive drive would start on August 5. Serchhip currently has 647 Myanmarese and 266 Bangladeshi refugees across more than 30 villages. Similar enrolment exercises are scheduled to begin in Champhai, Saitual, and Lunglei districts from Thursday, according to a statement by the state government. Mizoram has refugees in all 11 districts, with the largest number in Champhai district, which houses 13,586 refugees. Officials in Champhai said enrolment teams using the Foreigners Identification Portal & Biometric Enrolment (FIP&BE) system will begin tagging individuals in Vengthlang, Kanan Veng, and Dinthar Veng areas of Champhai town. Mizoram's home department estimates that over 37,000 people from Myanmar are currently residing in the state. Officials, however, underline that the figures fluctuate due to cross-border movements. Additional home secretary H Vanlaldika said the enrolment was being carried out through a system developed by the National Informatics Centre and indicated that a similar process could be conducted in districts where Bangladeshi nationals live if the state receives instructions from the Centre.
