Current Affairs-Topics

Rajasthan Promotes Citizenship for Minority Refugees

The Rajasthan government plans to hold special camps for granting citizenship to minority refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

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

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