Way Forward

♤ Regarding finally excluded individuals: They would officially be non-citizens but India has no fixed policy for “stateless” persons. They will surely not have voting rights but certain facilities on “humanitarian grounds” may be provided to them such as right to work etc.

♤ Tackle issue of illegal migration comprehensively: Solving illegal migrants’ issue in Assam will not solve the whole issue as they may very well come through states like West Bengal and then move on to the other parts of the country. Thus, following steps should be taken:

o Comprehensive border management: including fencing, total surveillance 24x7, use of new imaging technology etc.

o Forging bilateral agreement with neighbouring countries that provide for taking back nationals who stay illegally in the other country after due verification.

o Assistance from international organisations: such as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and other concerned international agencies with experience in this kind of complex issue.

o Establish a SAARC convention: India should take the initiative to encourage other countries in the SAARC region to develop a SAARC convention or declaration on refugees in which member states would agree to ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention.