New Delhi, March 14 (IANS) While politics is peaking over the grant of citizenship to persecuted minorities under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), a reality check of the ground situation shows that a ‘life of dignity’ for migrants from the neighbourhood may still be far-fetched in the national capital. However, the Rohingyas in the Kalindi Kunj area have access to basic amenities including water, food, medication, and education.
Rohingya refugees, who are often referred to as infiltrators, are living in millions across various slums in India, mostly in Assam and West Bengal. In the national capital, around 54 families with over 300 members reside in the Rohingya locality on Jaitpur road of Kalindi Kunj, where they have been provided with essentials for over a decade, including water and electricity connections.
According to Saifudullah, one of the residents, their children attend government schools in the Khadar area and medical vans visit the locality regularly to provide free medical assistance. NGOs also visit on weekends to provide meals and fruits to the community. Additionally, during water scarcity, tankers supply drinking water free of cost, and during winters, volunteers distribute blankets and other essentials to the residents.
Noor Mohammad, another resident, mentioned that they work in nearby locations for livelihood and earn an average of Rs 9,000- Rs 10,000. He highlighted that their children receive basic education at a nearby government school in the Khadar region. The Centre’s recent notification of CAA rules on March 11 has sparked political debates, with opposition parties accusing the BJP of exploiting the issue for political gain and expressing concerns about a potential influx of migrants.
The CAA rules stipulate that persecuted minorities of six religions can obtain Indian citizenship if they entered Indian territory before December 31, 2014. Despite the ongoing political discussions and controversies surrounding citizenship grants, the Rohingyas in the Kalindi Kunj area seem to have found some stability with access to basic necessities and educational opportunities.–IANS mr/pgh
