New Delhi, these are "New Birth Certificates". This is how Dayal Singh, a refugee from Pakistan, described the citizenship certificates issued to him, his son and daughter.
Singh, 47, who has been living in a hut in north Delhi's Majnu-ka-Tila since 2013 after migrating from Pakistan with his family, was among the 14 people who were denied proof under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). The letter was given. Oh Wednesday.
This law provides Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
Singh's 40-year-old wife Meera and their other five children are yet to receive certificates, but he is happy that a part of the family is now 'Indian Citizen' (Indian citizen)."Our journey was full of challenges because of the identity we brought with us, but now we are 'Indian citizens'," Meera said, speaking in the hut that is part of a camp for refugees, including Some of them live in tents.
Most are engaged in odd jobs, such as roadside selling chips and other packaged foods, water bottles and mobile-phone covers.
Mir said, "My father-in-law always used to say, 'One day we will be called Indians and that will be the greatest day of our lives. He died waiting for that day.'" He said that he would be happy today.Every migrant family in the camp has endured years of hardship, he said.
"Here, two or three families of 15-20 people live together in cramped conditions with minimal resources. We started marrying our children early to secure their future," he said.
Singh, his son Bharat Kumar, daughter Yashoda and 11 others were handed over citizenship certificates by the Union Home Secretary after the applications were processed online through a designated portal.
Jhula Ram, who came from Sindh province of Pakistan, said, it was a day of celebration.He said, "We took our first step in India on October 5, 2013. Yesterday, we became citizens of this country. There are 18 members in our family, and three of us got our 'birth certificate' (citizenship certificate). have got it."
Reflecting on his life in Sindh, Ram said, "I was young at that time but we lived in a tense environment. Whenever something happened against them, we were targets, and we were threatened.,
“There was a temple of Goddess Maa near my home (in Pakistan), which I still miss as it is one of my only good memories of childhood. I miss that temple but now I have started going to Vaishno Devi. I will do it Jammu),'' Ram said.
Ram said, "Our children will be proud and happy with the decision we have taken. I will ultimately make their lives easier."
Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Meera said that the new identity will secure the future of her family.He has named his 14-year-old youngest daughter after late actress Sridevi.
A 58-year-old resident of the camp, who did not want to be identified, said, “We came here in 2015, and as per the CAA, only those who came to India on or before December 31, 2014, are allowed this facility.” Will get." Benefits of CAA.”
Shantaram said, “Our people are being accepted and will no longer be called refugees. People call us Pakistani refugees but now we will be called Indians.However, my family and I came in 2015."
"I run a shop here and am just making ends meet. There are 50 members in my family and we are all in the same situation, not knowing what we will do," he said.
The CAA was enacted in December 2019 to grant Indian nationality to persecuted Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian immigrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who came to India on or before December 31, 2014.
After being enacted, the CAA received Presidential assent, but the rules under which Indian citizenship was granted were released on March 11 this year after a delay of four years.Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that the decades-long wait of people facing religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan is over.
Singh, 47, who has been living in a hut in north Delhi's Majnu-ka-Tila since 2013 after migrating from Pakistan with his family, was among the 14 people who were denied proof under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). The letter was given. Oh Wednesday.
This law provides Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
Singh's 40-year-old wife Meera and their other five children are yet to receive certificates, but he is happy that a part of the family is now 'Indian Citizen' (Indian citizen)."Our journey was full of challenges because of the identity we brought with us, but now we are 'Indian citizens'," Meera said, speaking in the hut that is part of a camp for refugees, including Some of them live in tents.
Most are engaged in odd jobs, such as roadside selling chips and other packaged foods, water bottles and mobile-phone covers.
Mir said, "My father-in-law always used to say, 'One day we will be called Indians and that will be the greatest day of our lives. He died waiting for that day.'" He said that he would be happy today.Every migrant family in the camp has endured years of hardship, he said.
"Here, two or three families of 15-20 people live together in cramped conditions with minimal resources. We started marrying our children early to secure their future," he said.
Singh, his son Bharat Kumar, daughter Yashoda and 11 others were handed over citizenship certificates by the Union Home Secretary after the applications were processed online through a designated portal.
Jhula Ram, who came from Sindh province of Pakistan, said, it was a day of celebration.He said, "We took our first step in India on October 5, 2013. Yesterday, we became citizens of this country. There are 18 members in our family, and three of us got our 'birth certificate' (citizenship certificate). have got it."
Reflecting on his life in Sindh, Ram said, "I was young at that time but we lived in a tense environment. Whenever something happened against them, we were targets, and we were threatened.,
“There was a temple of Goddess Maa near my home (in Pakistan), which I still miss as it is one of my only good memories of childhood. I miss that temple but now I have started going to Vaishno Devi. I will do it Jammu),'' Ram said.
Ram said, "Our children will be proud and happy with the decision we have taken. I will ultimately make their lives easier."
Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Meera said that the new identity will secure the future of her family.He has named his 14-year-old youngest daughter after late actress Sridevi.
A 58-year-old resident of the camp, who did not want to be identified, said, “We came here in 2015, and as per the CAA, only those who came to India on or before December 31, 2014, are allowed this facility.” Will get." Benefits of CAA.”
Shantaram said, “Our people are being accepted and will no longer be called refugees. People call us Pakistani refugees but now we will be called Indians.However, my family and I came in 2015."
"I run a shop here and am just making ends meet. There are 50 members in my family and we are all in the same situation, not knowing what we will do," he said.
The CAA was enacted in December 2019 to grant Indian nationality to persecuted Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian immigrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who came to India on or before December 31, 2014.
After being enacted, the CAA received Presidential assent, but the rules under which Indian citizenship was granted were released on March 11 this year after a delay of four years.Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that the decades-long wait of people facing religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan is over.