Assam Citizenship Crisis

A Correspondent

On August 28, 2024 the Assam government had announced a long-awaited decision to unlock the biometrics of 9,35,682 individuals, allowing them to finally receive their delayed Aadhaar cards after five years of uncertainty. The unlocking of biometrics for 9.35 lakh people during Assam’s NRC process has brought a long-awaited relief to many. However, for countless others, the damage—financial, emotional, and social—has already been done. The five-year ordeal has disrupted lives, as individuals have been deprived of Aadhaar cards, a crucial document required for accessing government benefits, bank accounts, and conducting basic financial transactions.

The citizenship crisis in Assam is a stark reality that has left countless individuals in a state of uncertainty and despair. Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has engaged with those grappling with the fallout of the NRC process, revealing a deeply fragmented experience: while some individuals have finally gained access to their Aadhaar cards, many others remain in limbo, still awaiting resolution. This dissonance highlights the ongoing bureaucratic chaos and the emotional toll it takes on people, who are often caught between the hope of recognition and the fear of exclusion. The narratives shared by these individuals paint a vivid picture of the anguish that accompanies their struggle for identity and belonging in a landscape fraught with suspicion and legal ambiguity. As families grapple with their precarious status, the reality of this citizenship crisis underscores the urgent need for clarity, accountability, and compassion in addressing the rights and identities of all residents of Assam.

FazrulHoque from Dhubri speaks to the CJP Assam team about the human cost behind the state’s administrative failures. Hoque is one of those whose Aadhar has been released by the state government. “My company didn’t transfer my salary because I didn’t have an Aadhaar. For five years, I had to use someone else’s account, and now I am fined for it. Getting my Aadhaar now is a relief, but these years of harassment—financial and mental—cannot be erased.”

Others, like TanmoySaha, remain trapped in limbo. His biometrics may have been unlocked, but his Aadhaar is still “in process.” For five long years, Tanmoy has faced numerous obstacles due to the delay. “It’s just another bureaucratic hurdle,” he shares with palpable disappointment.

HasinaKhaoon and Ariful Islam from Darrang district reflect similar frustrations. Both continue to wait for their Aadhaar cards, even after the unlocking of biometrics. “I’ve been stuck for five years because of the NRC biometrics issue,” Ariful says, clearly exhausted. “Others in the same situation have already received their Aadhaar cards, but I am still waiting.”

For many, it wasn’t just about the prolonged wait. The bureaucratic hurdles added a level of trauma, as people were forced to navigate confusing processes with little clarity or help. Noreja Begum from Chirang district recalls the additional distress of losing her biometric enrolment document during the NRC process. This led to a further delay in her Aadhaar issuance. “I couldn’t have done it without the help of CJP. They supported me through the process, and I finally have my Aadhaar, but it has been an extremely difficult journey.”

Access to Aadhaar is more than just a document for many. It represents survival and dignity. Rina Ghosh, a mid-day meal worker earning a meagre Rs1000 a month, reveals how the locked Aadhaar barred her from basic government benefits. “I was eligible for Orunodoi, free rice, and MPAY housing. But because my Aadhaar was locked, I was denied these essential benefits.” The impact of this deprivation has been particularly severe in rural Assam, where government welfare schemes form a critical safety net for many families.

For others, the damage extends to their political rights as well. AnowaraKhatoon from Goalpara finds herself doubly marginalised. Her voter list status is marked ‘D’ (Doubtful voter), stripping her of her right to vote, and her Aadhaar, which was delayed by the NRC process, is finally here—but the name is incorrect. “I feel like I am invisible to the system,” she says.

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Frontier
Vol 57, No. 21, Nov 17 - 23, 2024