EMN
Dimapur, August 29
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision with the launch of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana has evoked a note of caution from Naga Council Dimapur. In a press release today, the council stated while it is “appreciative of the government of India’s initiative to provide banking and credit facilities to poor people through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), the scheme should not become a liability which may harm the interest of Nagaland and North East states in the long run.” The Naga Council expressed concern that illegal immigrants may take advantage of the scheme to legitimize citizenship while availing the facility. The likelihood of such a situation coming to pass being the norm in Nagaland where to open any bank account resident certification by village/colony GBs and colony chairmen is a must anywhere in the state. The statement of the council said the “possibility that corrupt or gullible leaders may issue Residency Certificates to illegal immigrants for a few hundred rupees thereby allowing these aliens the means to open accounts in banks” must be considered. Such a move will enable the illegal immigrants to get Indian citizenship as well as avail the welfare schemes of the Indian state, it feared.
The Naga Council has, therefore, requested all gaonburas and chairmen of villages/colonies all over the State to be extra vigilant as far as issuance of Residency Certificates are concerned. “The Modi government is also reminded that while pro-poor initiatives are always welcome, the scheme should be implemented in the North East states after issuing proper advisory keeping in mind the issue of illegal Bangladeshis residing in the 7 states,” the release added.
