A prelude to census

#TGLife

The government of Goa has approved setting aside a period of 45 days between April 16 and May 30 to conduct the first phase of Census and simultaneous updation of National Population Register (NPR). The move comes at a time when there are protests happening around the country over Citizenship Amendment Act, National Register of Citizens, and  National Population Register. It must however be noted that NPR exercise was carried out in the country first in 2010 under UPA government, 

and is to be undertaken every ten years. TGIS takes a look at what is NPR, and why it is currently a subject of debate.

What is NPR?

The NPR is a list of “usual residents” of the country. A “usual resident” is defined for the purposes of NPR as a person who has resided in a local area for the past six months or more or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next six months or more.

The data for the National Population Register was first collected in 2010 by the then UPA government and it is to be done every 10 years.

The NPR will be prepared at the local (village/sub-Town), sub-district, district,  state and national level under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003. It is mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR.

According to the government, you don’t have to give proof for NPR nor biometric particulars will be collected.

What is NRC?

 The NRC is an official record of those who are legal Indian citizens. It includes demographic information about all those individuals who qualify as citizens of India as per the Citizenship Act, 1955. The register was first prepared after the 1951 Census of India and since then it has not been updated until recently.

So far, such a database has only been maintained for the state of Assam. However, Home Minister Amit Shah declared during a recent parliamentary session that the register would be extended to the entire country.

Protests have been happening around the country due to CAA issue, and that has created a sort of psychology of fear among the people. Perhaps that is why there seems to be so much debate on NPR exercise being conducted in Goa. 

— Datta Damodar Naik, social commentator, writer, Margao

For every nation, NPR (National Population Register) is a must. This initiative has not been a Bharatiya Janata Party or National Democratic Alliance (NDA) initiative. It has been carried on during the Indian National Congress’s United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime too. There is nothing to be suspicious about it. As far as the protests are concerned, two things would help in clarifying the issue. Those who are doubtful of the ruling government’s motives must express their fears and phobias (if any), in a democratic manner. And from the government’s side, there should be clarification that these facts and figures are the requirement of nation, to formulate policies  for the betterment of the general population. I feel that this information should help in analyzing the needs and requirements of the public and make schemes accordingly.

— Shambhu Bhau Bandekar, former MLA, Goa Assembly

National Population Register (NPR) is a compulsory and regular procedure adopted by the governments of India to know about the number of people living in this country. The only hassle in collecting data is the timing at which it is announced. This regular procedure would have been carried on peacefully as is done every 10 years, but the two Acts that have been passed – CAA and NRC. People are confused on Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). Since NPR will also be carried out soon after the announcement of these two Acts, there are doubts and fears arising in the minds of Muslim population which is in minority in some of the states and in majority in some others. Whatever confusion is there should be cleared by the government.

— Dadu Mandrekar, writer,  photographer, Mandrem