Committee to Meet Senior Officials, Assess Impact of Illegal Immigration and Abnormal Population Changes
JAMMU, AUGUST 8 :
A high-level committee constituted by the Central Government to examine demographic changes arising from illegal immigration and other abnormal factors will undertake a three-day visit to Jammu from August 10 to 12, officials said.
This will be the first visit of the committee to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. During its stay, the panel is scheduled to visit various parts of the Jammu region, including border areas, and interact with senior government and administrative officials to assess the situation.
The committee is headed by Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar (Retd) and includes the Census Commissioner along with three distinguished experts—Durga Shankar Mishra (Retired IAS), Balaji Srivastava (Retired IPS), and Dr Shamika Ravi. The Joint Secretary (Foreigners-I), Ministry of Home Affairs, is serving as the Member Secretary.
According to officials, the committee is expected to tour border areas and localities where settlements of foreign nationals have been reported. The panel will also seek the views of senior officials on demographic changes and their implications in parts of the Jammu division.
Officials said the committee’s present schedule is confined to Jammu division, with no visit to the Kashmir Valley planned at this stage. The visit comes amid renewed scrutiny of alleged illegal immigration and demographic changes in the region.
The committee’s mandate covers a comprehensive assessment of demographic changes across the country attributed to illegal immigration and other abnormal factors. It has been tasked with examining population patterns among different religious and social communities, identifying the causes behind such changes and recommending policy, legislative and administrative measures.
The panel is required to submit its report within one year, although the Ministry of Home Affairs may extend its tenure by up to six months, if required. The committee is also expected to visit other parts of the country affected by illegal immigration, including West Bengal, Assam and parts of the Northeast, besides other locations.
The Jammu visit assumes significance as authorities have recently stepped up scrutiny of individuals suspected of illegal entry and undocumented stay. The committee’s assessment is expected to provide a broader picture of demographic trends and help formulate appropriate measures to address concerns related to illegal immigration.(KNC)