In a significant step towards documentation, officials across eleven districts of Mizoram have successfully collected the biometric data of more than half of the Myanmar refugees residing in the state. This extensive enrollment process, which kicked off in the latter part of July, represents a crucial effort to register a displaced population that sought shelter following political turmoil in their homeland.
Progress of the Biometric Enrollment
According to officials from the state home department, the biometric details of 17,864 individuals have been captured through a dedicated portal as of last Friday. This figure constitutes 56.49% of the total 31,621 Myanmar refugees currently estimated to be in Mizoram. The authorities have clarified that there is no fixed deadline for the completion of this entire process, acknowledging the logistical challenges of covering refugees spread throughout the state.
Next Steps and Refugee Dynamics
A home department official revealed that once the enrollment of Myanmar nationals is finished, the focus will shift to collecting biometric data from over 2,000 refugees from Bangladesh who are taking shelter in three Mizoram districts. The official also highlighted the fluid nature of the refugee population. The number of Myanmar refugees in the state is never constant, he noted, citing ongoing movement. While a mass exodus occurred at one point, some refugees have returned to their native villages in Chin state when the situation improved, and others have migrated to different parts of India or abroad.
Background of the Influx
The refugee crisis began in early March 2021, triggered by the military coup in Myanmar that overthrew the National League for Democracy (NLD) government on February 1, 2021. This political upheaval forced thousands of people from Myanmar's Chin state, which shares a border with Mizoram, to cross over into India in search of safety and stability.
