NewKerala.com

Key Points

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced an exemption for tea garden workers in the state's new Aadhaar card policy. The government is tightening rules to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining Aadhaar cards, requiring DC approval for adult applicants. Sarma revealed that nearly 50,000 tea garden workers still lack Aadhaar enrollment. The move is part of Assam's broader strategy to regulate citizenship documentation and curb infiltration.

Key Points: Assam CM Sarma Exempts Tea Garden Workers From New Aadhaar Rules

  • Assam exempts tea workers from strict Aadhaar rules
  • New policy requires DC approval for adult Aadhaar issuance
  • Move aims to curb illegal immigration in Assam
  • Nearly 50,000 tea garden workers still lack Aadhaar cards
2 min read

Exception for tea garden workers on issuance of Aadhaar Cards: Assam CM Sarma

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announces Aadhaar exemption for tea garden workers while tightening rules to curb illegal immigration.

"We have made an exception for tea garden workers because almost 50,000 adults in that sector have yet to obtain their Aadhaar. – Himanta Biswa Sarma"

Sivasagar, June 29

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday announced an exception for tea garden workers in the state's new Aadhaar card issuance policy, aiming to address the challenges faced by this community while maintaining stringent measures against illegal immigration.

Speaking during a review visit to the Rang Ghar beautification project in Sivasagar, Sarma detailed the policy, which requires adult applicants to obtain Aadhaar cards only after satisfying the District Commissioner, except for tea garden workers, among whom nearly 50,000 adults are yet to be enrolled.

"Almost the entire adult population has obtained an Aadhaar Card. So, if any adult population in Assam requests an Aadhaar Card now, it raises questions. Henceforth, for adults, Aadhaar will be issued only after the satisfaction of the District Commissioner... We have made an exception for tea garden workers because almost 50,000 adults in that sector have yet to obtain their Aadhaar. We want to doubly ensure that any adult person asking for Aadhaar is genuinely an Indian citizen," Sarma stated.

The policy, part of a broader strategy to detect illegal immigrants, reflects the Assam government's ongoing efforts to regulate citizenship and identity documentation.

"We are adopting a multi-pronged strategy to detect illegal immigrants - regulating Aadhaar issuance via DCs is just one step we are taking in this direction," Sarma elaborated on a post on X on Sunday.

Earlier on Friday, to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining Aadhaar cards, the Assam government decided to implement a rule whereby Aadhaar cards for adults will only be issued by District Commissioners (DCs).

The move comes as part of the government's ongoing efforts to tighten security and prevent illegal infiltration in the state.

CM Sarma made the announcement following a state cabinet meeting that discussed the new measures, further stating that the decision to tighten Aadhaar issuance rules would aid the state government's efforts to safeguard its demographic profile.

"Last night, we pushed back 20 more Bangladeshis as part of our ongoing efforts to detect and push back illegal infiltrators. Very soon, we will implement a decision where Aadhaar cards for adult citizens will be issued only by DCs. This will ensure that no illegal immigrant can get an Aadhaar made and we can track and push them back easily," Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While I appreciate the exception for tea workers, the new policy seems too strict for others. Many genuine citizens might face unnecessary harassment. The government should find a balance between security and citizen convenience.
R
Rohit P
Finally some action on illegal immigration! Assam has suffered enough. But will this really stop infiltration? Need stronger border security too. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
K
Kavya N
My father worked in tea gardens his whole life. These workers are the most honest, hardworking people. Thank you CM for recognizing their contribution and making their documentation process easier. Hope other states learn from this 👏
M
Michael C
Interesting policy. As an outsider, I wonder how this will affect Assam's economy in the long run. Tea industry is crucial, but security concerns are valid too. Hope the implementation is smooth.
S
Shreya B
What about other marginalized communities? Why only tea workers? Many poor people in rural areas also struggle with documentation. Government should extend this facility to all economically weaker sections.
V
Vikram M
The DC offices are already overburdened. Adding Aadhaar verification to their workload might create more delays. Government should increase staff and infrastructure first before implementing such policies.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50