SIR process or NRC under 2002 electoral roll ?

Koijam Shivasunder Singh
SIR stole the limelight for myriad reasons – both constructive as well as destructive criticisms cutting across party lines.  Sole motive behind such exercise claimed to protect legal citizens, to churn out illegal voters that shaped political setup in inimical ways-both short and long term yet controversies do accompany the process.
Taking into account the recently concluded SIR process in West Bengal, many unwanted and grave issues cropped up during the process that pose grave challenges to the Nation in long run.
Invalid/suspicious fathers’ name being found, mother and father share same name highlighting undeniable fabrication of entry in electoral roll. Further, underage father ie less than 15 years which is both biologically and legally impossible was found where the number stood at staggering 11 lakh 95 thousand.
Cases of person above 45 years found no entry in 2002 SIR list being one of serious issues that attracts strict scrutiny.  In Bengal SIR process, at least 24 lakh male voters had 6 children. There were grandfathers whose age is below 40 years that reflects implausible generational age gap where the number stood at 3 lakh 45 thousand cases.
Rampant cases were also found where electors in 2025 rolls linked themselves with 2002 rolls showing voters of 2002 at their parents or grandparents but found mismatches such as wrong names of parents or improbable ages of grandparents that included mismatched photographs.  For instance, many elderly people have attached photographs of youths aged between 20 and 30 years as their own. Similarly, some male voters have attached photographs of women.
There were also cases of enumeration form submission in the name of deceased voters through forged Aadhar, money power and influence.
In many cases electors had marked some unrelated person as their parents to establish a link to the previous SIR electoral roll.
In the case of Assam, the State has a different yardstick of such process. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar already mentioned regarding Assam that the State has been excluded from the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) as the State falls under separate provisions of India’s Citizenship Act.
He said that the process of checking citizenship in Assam is being carried out under the supervision of the Supreme Court and is nearing completion.
In case of small and complex States like Manipur, such manipulative entry cannot only wreak havoc but also could destroy socio-political and economic status of original indigenes of the State. Such exercise should neither legalize illegal immigrants from neighbouring countries nor undocumented settlers starting 1961 as base year.  Strict scrutiny of requisite documents excluding Aadhar should be yardstick for SIR process in Manipur and minimum 3 supporting documents should be made mandatory to prove one’s citizenship.
Further, 100% impartial and strict implementation would pave way towards maintaining peace and stability and also to protect indigenous population of the State.
Care should be taken during SIR process where direct or indirect attempt to create fearful environment to intimidate BLOs and BLAs performing their duties should be checked and attempt to implant or legalize fake voters should be checked properly.  Will progeny mapping be implemented seriously in Manipur ? Will it be used as a tool to award benefit of doubt to certain section ?