Home Ministry is mulling over a proposal to grant ‘work permits’ to people living in Assam who do not qualify as citizens of India for inclusion in the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
This will enable them to continue to live and work in India although they will be deprived of their right to vote.
A senior government official said,“No country will accept them. Where can these people be sent away to? Some kind of an alternative will have to work out.”
The final draft of the NRC for Assam which was published on July 30, excluded 40 lakh names and included 289 lakh. NRC is now being updated under the supervision of SC.
“The issue is being monitored by the Supreme Court, the process of filing objections has begun; much depends on when the all the claims are verified and final NRC list is ready,” said another senior official.