Aizwal: The Mizoram government is yet to begin the process of biometric enrolment for over 30,000 refugees from Myanmar who are seeking shelter in the state, despite the extended deadline set by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) ending this month.
This was informed by the home department officials on Sunday.
The officials attributed the delay in commencing biometric enrolment for Myanmar refugees in Mizoram to the format provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
“The form given to us by the MHA is not valid for collection of biometric data of the Myanmar refugees as it has been prepared for illegal foreigners who are to be deported from the country,” a senior home department official said.
He stated that it would not be at all appropriate and justified to use the forms supplied by the MHA after Home Minister Amit Shah assured Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma early this year that not even a single Myanmar refugee taking shelter in Mizoram will be deported until and unless peace is completely restored in the trouble-torn neighbouring country.
He said the state home department returned the forms provided by the MHA a few months ago, citing their unsuitability for collecting biometric data.
Since then, the central government has not issued any official communication regarding the matter, he said.
The official stated that biographic data, including profiles, has been collected for nearly all refugees, even those who have returned to their home country.
However, the issuance of temporary identity cards remains pending for a limited number of refugees, he said.
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Of 32,794 Myanmar refugees in Mizoram, 16,892 are taking shelter in 127 relief camps in seven districts while 15,902 people are staying outside the relief camps. Among the refugees, 10,002 are males, 10,340 are females and 12,452 are children.
