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The Curious Case of Prateek Hajela and the NRC in Assam

25 Nov,2024 12:08 PM, by: Super Admin
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The National Register of Citizens (NRC) project in Assam, aimed at identifying legal residents and distinguishing them from illegal immigrants, has been one of India’s most controversial administrative undertakings. At the center of this massive exercise was PrateekHajela, an IAS officer from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, who served as the NRC's State Coordinator. While the project was seen as critical to addressing Assam’s complex migration issues, its implementation led to legal, financial, and administrative disputes that have spotlighted Hajela’s role.

Background: The NRC Initiative

The NRC was first compiled in Assam in 1951 to document the state's legal residents. Decades later, amid growing concerns over illegal immigration from Bangladesh, the Supreme Court ordered an update of the NRC in 2013. PrateekHajela was appointed to lead this politically and socially sensitive task.

Under his leadership, the NRC process engaged over 55,000 government employees, involved digital technologies, and reviewed more than 3.3 crore applications. In August 2019, the final NRC list was published, excluding approximately 19 lakh people—a move that sparked widespread dissatisfaction.

The Allegations Against PrateekHajela

While the NRC list was controversial in its outcomes, it also raised questions about financial integrity, procedural transparency, and ethical practices under Hajela’sleadership.The process resulted in a highly debated final list and revelations of financial irregularities amounting to misuse of ₹1,579.78 crore.

A detailed audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) unearthed significant irregularities in the use of funds allocated for the NRC exercise:

Software and System Mismanagement:

215 software utilities were added to the NRC system without proper protocols or competitive tendering. This "haphazard" development created vulnerabilities for data tampering without leaving an audit trail​

Overpayments to Vendors:

Payments to vendors exceeded approved limits. Wipro Limited, responsible for software development and data management, reportedly violated the Minimum Wages Act by underpaying data entry operators by 45.59%-64.27%, leading to undue profits​.

Escalated Project Costs:

The project cost surged from ₹288.18 crore in 2014 to ₹1,602.66 crore by 2019. The steep escalation raised questions about fiscal accountability​

Inclusion of Illegal Immigrants

Hajela has been accused by his successor, Hitesh Dev Sarma, of deliberately including illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the NRC. Activist groups such as Assam Public Works have echoed these claims, filing complaints about manipulation in the NRC update. Critics argue that these discrepancies undermine the credibility of the entire process​

Procedural Shortcomings

The NRC process faced accusations of errors in verifying documents and claims that indigenous communities were excluded while non-natives were included. This triggered calls for re-verification of entries, with political and civil society groups asserting that the process failed to meet its objectives​

Transfer and Retirement

Following threats to his safety and rising tensions, the Supreme Court transferred Hajela to Madhya Pradesh in October 2019. In 2023, Hajela sought voluntary retirement from service, which was approved by the Assam government. This move added another layer of intrigue to his already controversial career​.

PrateekHajela now faces multiple court cases in Assam:

       Financial Mismanagement: Allegations of misused funds have led to criminal revision petitions and summons by the court.

       FIRs and Complaints: Organizations like Assam Public Works have filed FIRs accusing Hajela of manipulating the NRC’s outcomes to favor illegal immigrants​.

The Broader Implications

The NRC exercise under Hajela’s leadership has left a deep imprint on Assam’s socio-political fabric. While the project aimed to resolve identity issues and safeguard Assamese cultural integrity, it has raised more questions than answers. Key concerns include:

       Credibility of the NRC: Demands for re-verification persist as questions linger over the exclusion of 19 lakh people.

       Impact on Affected Families: Those left out of the NRC face legal battles and uncertainty over their citizenship.

       Administrative Challenges: The procedural shortcomings have exposed systemic inefficiencies and lapses in governance.

The saga of PrateekHajela and the NRC in Assam reflects the challenges of balancing administrative accountability with political and social complexities. As court cases proceed and calls for re-verification intensify, the NRC project remains a polarizing issue in Assam’s history. It underscores the need for transparent governance and inclusive decision-making in addressing sensitive issues like citizenship and migration.

 

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of The Critical Script or its editor.

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