Over 1.3k migrants from Pakistan seek citizenship in state under CAA

Jaipur: The state has received over 1,300 applications from Pakistani migrants residing here after the Centre notified the rules under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

The application process under the new rules began on March 11, 2024, and organisations based in Jodhpur, Barmer, Jaisalmer, and Bikaner are assisting migrants to complete the necessary documentation required as per CAA.

In Jodhpur, social organisations have held special camps to assist migrants from Pakistan and verify their religious identity and issue necessary certificates required to apply. Applicants need to submit a copy of their passport, either expired or valid, and, if they don't have copy of the passport, documents that are necessary to prove their identity.

Ganesh Bijani, head of the Hindu Visthapith Sansthan, a body which concluded a month-long citizenship camp in Jodhpur helping migrants from Pakistan, said, "Almost 90% of these applicants are illiterate. It is a herculean task to collect relevant documents from those who don't have a passport. We have been connecting them to their relatives back in Pakistan for additional documents like power or electricity bill, land deeds, if any, and passport copies of their parents on WhatsApp to prove their identity."

So far, the network has assisted over 1,300 such people submit their applications on indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in. Jodhpur district magistrate (DM) Gaurav Agrawal clarified that under the new rules (CAA), the local administration had no role in any process of granting citizenship.

"The process is online, and we are not keeping track of the number of applications. Everything is happening at the central government level," he said. As per estimates, over 15,000 migrants are staying in Jodhpur alone.

CAA: 1st list for Raj expected by month end
Though the central govt started granting citizenship certificates under CAA on May 16, no applicant from Rajasthan made the cut. Currently, the applications are being processed and the first list for Rajasthan is expected to be released by the end of May.

Ramesh Meghwal, an applicant living in Jodhpur, expressed hope of receiving his citizenship soon.


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