The Mizoram government has yet to begin the process of collecting biometric data from refugees residing in the state, Home Minister K Sapdanga revealed in the assembly on Wednesday.
The delay is attributed to ongoing discussions with the Centre regarding the implementation of the biometric collection system.
Responding to a query from opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) MLA Robert Romawia Royte, Sapdanga confirmed that talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs are ongoing to finalise the procedures for biometric data collection.
According to the Home Minister, as of August 13, the state is sheltering 33,724 refugees from Myanmar and 2,014 ethnic Zo people from Bangladesh.
Additionally, 7,999 internally displaced individuals from Manipur have also sought refuge in Mizoram. The majority of the Myanmarese refugees are from the Chin state, with whom the Mizo share ethnic ties.
They have been arriving in Mizoram following the military coup in February 2021.
The Bawm people from Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts arrived in November 2022, while the Kuki-Zo people from Manipur have been arriving since May 2023 due to ethnic violence in their home state.
Earlier, Chief Minister Lalduhoma had indicated that a biometric enrollment portal was prepared in line with directives from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The portal was expected to facilitate the collection of biometric data.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had instructed Mizoram and Manipur, both bordering Myanmar, to capture the biometric and biographic details of "illegal immigrants" in their states.
In June last year, the Ministry directed both states to complete this task by the end of September and mandated the development of a comprehensive plan for this process.
Despite initial steps, including training and the appointment of nodal officers, Mizoram's Council of Ministers decided in September last year to postpone biometric and biographic enrollment.
The decision was based on concerns about conducting the process amid the upcoming state assembly elections scheduled for November.
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