Aizawl, Sept 30: The Ministry of Home Affairs has announced a six-month postponement of the collection of biometric and biographic data for Myanmar refugees in Mizoram, following the state government’s decision to defer this process. The move aims to address concerns about potential discrimination against refugees who share ethnic and ancestral ties with the people of Mizoram.
This decision comes after the Mizoram government opted not to collect biographic and biometric data for Myanmar refugees during a meeting of the council of ministers chaired by Chief Minister Zoramthanga. The council believed that such data collection would be discriminatory, as the refugees from Myanmar are considered kindred brothers and sisters due to their shared ethnicity and ancestry with the people of Mizoram.
Information Minister Lalruatkima explained the council’s stance, stating that collecting biometric and biographic data for the refugees would be unjust as they are part of the same ethnic and ancestral community.
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The state government has been providing humanitarian assistance and healthcare to the refugees, allowing them to seek shelter in Mizoram. Thousands of refugee students have been enrolled in schools, receiving free textbooks, uniforms, and midday meals like any other students in the state.
In April, the Ministry of Home Affairs instructed both the Mizoram and Manipur state governments to initiate the collection of biometric and biographic data for Myanmar refugees in their respective states. This directive came amid the first wave of refugees arriving in Mizoram in March 2021, following the military coup in Myanmar on February 1 of the same year.
While the central government had initially instructed both Mizoram and Manipur to push back the refugees, Mizoram chose to allow their entry and provide support on humanitarian grounds, as well as due to their close kinship with the local population. This decision highlights the state’s commitment to assisting the refugees during a challenging period in Myanmar’s history.
