The deputy commissioner of Lunglei district has disclosed that a number of Myanmarese migrants staying in the southern Mizoram district are reported to have job cards for the Central government’s scheme for 100 days’ employment and even the voters IDs.
“Some of them are said to possess not only one, but two voters ID cards,” V Sapchhunga said during the district vigilance & committee meeting at Lunglei on Tuesday, which was attended by the two MPs from Mizoram, CL Ruala (Lok Sabha) and Lalhmingliana (Rajya Sabha).
The district administration said cooperation from the Indian citizens would be required to find out the illegal voters and job card holders.
Voicing grave concern over the issue, the Lok Sabha MP also added: “Mizoram is housing a large number of Myanmarese migrants who have been causing social, economic and administrative problems in the society. Unless the illegal foreigners are checked soon, they are sure to give us greater problems.”
In the light of the officials’ remarks, Myanmarese migrants are suspected behind existence of bogus NREGS job cards in Mizoram in all of the eight districts.
According to the officials, not only Myanmarese nationals, but also Indian citizens from the neighbouring states are working in different sectors in the state causing jobs scarcity for the sons of the soil.
Mizoram, which shares 404 kilometres border with Myanmar (Burma), is home to not less than 60,000 Myanmarese migrants, majority of them ethnic Chins who share similar cultures and language with the Mizos.
They work in handloom industries, shops, restaurants, automobile workshops, and also domestic help. Many of them are also engaged in moonshine factories and drugs peddling.
According to a Myanmarese social activist who did not want to be named, the recent political change in Myanmar has not yet instilled a sense of confidence among the Myanmarese refugees to go back to their country.
“Only a few of them have gone back home. Majority are still afraid to go back,” he has said.
According to the Indian Passport Act, Myanmarese nationals, especially Chins, were allowed to travel up to 40 km from the border inside Mizoram as they have many relatives on both sides of the border. However, the MHA reduced the free zone to 16 kilometres and directed the state government that any Myanmarese national intending to go beyond 16 km inside Mizoram has to obtain permission from New Delhi.
The mass migration of Chins from Myanmar following military atrocities in that country is a big burden for the small state of Mizoram which has a population of a little more than ten lakh.
The Chins easily mingled with the Mizos as they share similar culture and language and have the same physical features.
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