Aizawl: Mizoram has decided not to collect biometric and biographic data of Myanmar refugees in the state as it would lead to discrimination.
Minister for Information and Public Relations Lalruatkima said the decision was taken in a meeting of the council of ministers on Wednesday.
Lalruatkima told the media that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had instructed the Mizoram government to collect biographic and biometric data of Myanmar refugees.
The state tried to dissuade the Centre, he said, but was met with stubborn insistence.
He said: “Collection of biometric and biographic data of Myanmar refugees would amount to discrimination against people who are of our blood and kindred brothers and sisters. So, the council of ministers decided not to undertake this as of now.”
Refugees from neighbouring countries cannot be given the refugee status in Mizoram as India is not a signatory to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the protocol, the minister said.
He also said that repeated appeals to the Centre for humanitarian aid to Myanmar refugees had gone unheard.
Lalruatkima, however, said the Mizoram government allowed refugees to take shelter in the state and provided the necessary humanitarian assistance and healthcare. “We enrolled thousands of students in schools and provided free textbooks, uniforms and midday-meal like we do to students belonging to the state,” he said.
The meeting of the council of ministers, chaired by Chief Minister Zoramthanga, is most likely the last meeting before elections to the 40-member state legislative assembly is announced early next month.
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