The committee will study the demographic changes arising from illegal immigration and other abnormal reasons, and to suggest measures to deal with these demographic changes.
- Chaired by Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar (Retd.), the committee includes the Census Commissioner and three distinguished experts.
Key Terms of Reference
- To deliberate and study causes and challenges of demographic changes such as cross-border factors etc.
- To analyse structural population changes at the level of religious or social communities.
- To recommend institutional and operational mechanisms for border management, identification, detention, deportation of illegal immigrants etc.
Reasons for high Illegal immigration in India
- Destination for individuals fleeing persecution: E.g. Rohingyas from Myanmar.
- Economic Factors: It includes poverty, lack of economic opportunities, stagnation of income, etc. in neighbouring states.
- Environmental Factors: E.g. Frequent floods, cyclones and riverbank erosion in Bangladesh.
Key Implications
- National Security Threats: Illegal migrants are more vulnerable to getting recruited by terrorist organizations and illegal cross-border activities like smuggling etc.
- Socio Economic Burden: Illegal migrants can put pressure on limited resources, disturb the labour market, and lead to land encroachment.
- Social Tensions: E.g. ethnic and religious frictions in Assam due to illegal migration from Bangladesh
Conclusion
Thus, India should adopt a balanced approach by strengthening border security, creating a clear refugee policy, and enhancing regional cooperation to address illegal migration effectively.
