Slow Progress in Biometric Enrollment of Refugees in Mizoram

Challenges in Biometric Enrollment for Refugees

Aizawl, Aug 11: The biometric enrollment process for refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh, part of the ‘Foreigners Identification Portal and Biometric Enrollment’ (FIP and BE) initiative, is moving forward at a slow pace across the 11 districts of Mizoram.

As of Friday evening, officials from the state home department reported that only 1,947 refugees have had their biometric data recorded.

The enrollment began in the last week of July, with the first district starting on July 28, followed by most others on July 30 and 31. Currently, Mizoram is home to approximately 32,000 refugees from Myanmar and nearly 3,000 from Bangladesh. While Myanmar refugees are distributed across all districts, those from Bangladesh, particularly from the Chittagong Hill Tracts, are primarily located in Lawngtlai district, which borders both Myanmar and Bangladesh. Smaller groups can also be found in Lunglei district and Thenzawl town in Serchhip district.

In Lawngtlai, over 2,000 Bangladeshi refugees reside, with additional populations of 266 in Thenzawl and 63 in Khawmawi village in Lunglei. Despite the significant number of refugees, district officials have reported various challenges faced by the enrollment teams. Technical issues with electronic devices and poor internet connectivity in remote areas have complicated the process. An official from Lawngtlai noted, “While collecting data at relief camps is more straightforward, it becomes more time-consuming when trying to reach refugees living with relatives or friends.”

Champhai district, which has the highest number of Myanmar refugees—over 13,500—has also experienced slow biometric data collection. Although the process started on July 31, only seven individuals have been enrolled due to technical problems. To mitigate these issues, the Champhai district administration acquired new electronic equipment from the home department in Aizawl on Saturday. Officials are optimistic that the process will resume next week with enhanced efficiency.

The ongoing delays in biometric enrollment are raising concerns as the state continues to manage a large influx of refugees while navigating technical challenges.

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