Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said the state government is committed towards updation of the National Register of Citizens, 1951 and has engaged 39,935 state government employees, including contractual workers for completion of the process on time.
In a statement here, Gogoi said the state government has been making every effort to complete the entire process within the stipulated timeframe and has engaged a strong workforce of its own.
"The process of NRC updation carried out by the state government under the direct supervision of the Central Government has been going on with full steam and the final publication of the updated NRC will be within December, 2016," Gogoi said.
He said the state government was committed towards protecting the interest of the state and its people and has initiated a slew of measures aimed at ensuring a correct NRC, free from the names of foreigners.
"The NRC process was initiated by the state government to protect the state's interest way back in June, 2010 with a pilot project at Barpeta. Noone demanded it nor did anyone raise it. I took up the initiative so that the vexed foreigners' issue is resolved once and for all.
"However, I would like to thank former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, All Assam Students Union (AASU) and other organisations for lending support to the whole exercise," he said.
The Chief Minister said the Centre has not engaged any employee for the ongoing exercise.
"The Central Government has not engaged any employee in the NRC updation process though it has a huge workforce in Railways, banks, post offices and other undertakings," Gogoi said, adding the Centre has also not deputed any representative to take stock of the progress so far.
Gogoi appealed to each and every organisation and individual to point out the lacunae, if any, in the ongoing NRC exercise.
"There should not be any lacuna or loophole in the NRC updation exercise... It has to be foolproof. I appeal to every organisation and individual to bring to our notice if there is any lacuna or loophole so that the NRC updation exercise is smooth and hassle-free," he added.
