Rajasthan Promotes Citizenship for Minority Refugees

Special Camps and Simplified Procedures

• Rajasthan government to hold special camps for granting citizenship
• Targets minority refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh
• Rules and procedures simplified for faster processing
• District collectors authorized to issue citizenship certificates
• Monthly camps to be organized at district level
• Focus on providing citizenship certificates to Pakistani refugees
• Instructions issued to district collectors for implementation

Current Status and Progress

• 2,329 people granted citizenship in Rajasthan from 2016 to 2024
• 1,566 applications currently pending
• 300 cases awaiting Intelligence Bureau reports
• In Barmer, Jaisalmer, and Balotra districts:
  • 373 applications received in last five years for Pakistani refugees
  • 84 applications processed
  • 289 applications still pending

Government Initiatives and Objectives

• State government making special efforts to expedite citizenship process
• Health Minister Gajendra Singh announced initiatives in Rajasthan Assembly
• Aim to grant citizenship to refugees as quickly as possible
• Simplification of rules to facilitate faster processing
• Empowerment of district-level authorities to streamline the process
• Focus on addressing backlog of pending applications
• Commitment to supporting minority refugees in obtaining Indian citizenship

Refugees in India:

Definition of refugees:

• According to the 1951 Refugee Convention, a refugee is someone who has fled their country due to a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.

Historical context:

• Refugees are treated under the Foreigners Act 1946 and the Citizenship Act 1955
• India has a long history of hosting refugees since its independence in 1947
• Partition of India led to massive population exchanges
• Subsequent waves of refugees from neighboring countries

Major refugee groups in India:

• Tibetans (since 1959)
• Bangladeshis (1971 onwards)
• Sri Lankan Tamils (1980s onwards)
• Afghans (1979 onwards)
• Rohingyas (2017 onwards)

Challenges Faced by Refugees in India:

a) Lack of legal recognition:

• No formal refugee status
• Difficulty in obtaining identity documents

b) Access to basic services:

• Limited access to healthcare
• Challenges in enrolling children in schools
• Housing issues and informal settlements

c) Employment issues:

• Restricted work permits
• Exploitation in informal job markets
• Limited opportunities for skilled work

d) Social integration:

• Language barriers
• Cultural differences
• Discrimination and xenophobia

Global Refugee Crisis:

Key statistics of Refugee:

• As of 2024, over 100 million people are forcibly displaced worldwide
• Approximately 26 million are refugees
• More than half of refugees are under the age of 18

Major causes:

• War and conflict (e.g., Syria, South Sudan)
• Political persecution
• Religious or ethnic discrimination
• Climate change and natural disasters
• Economic instability