Nagpur: The number of people visiting the birth and death registration department of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has shot up exponentially in the last three months, soon after talk of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) gripped the nation.
Officials say that from not more than three to four daily queries, the number has jumped to 300-340 visitors daily. In January, 5,581 citizens visited the department searching for birth and death certificates-related issues. Of this, 4,643 were Muslims.
The number of non-Muslims too — though in double digits only — is considerably higher than before, when very few people would trickle in to the office through the day.
A bulk of these people belong to the lower and middle income groups. Officials are having a hard time explaining the nitty-grittier of the process to them.
Those unable to decipher which identity proofs and supporting documents are needed for processing of their applications have been doing the rounds of the NMC headquarters in Civil Lines.
The NMC department had not bothered to maintain a visitor’s register earlier, given the scant footfalls. After the sustained recent rush at the office, however, officials have decided to keep a count of citizens coming there for name corrections, additions and seeking birth and death certificates.
The department is witnessing heavy rush everyday, particularly during morning hours. On Thursday, when TOI visited the department, harried citizens were seen queued up at the lone window manned by two officials.
Roohi Abid, a resident of Pili Nadi on Kamptee Road, has been coming for two days to get the death certificate of her grandfather Hussain Baig, who died in 1963. “We have dadajaan’s school leaving certificate, but need his death certificate to establish that we have been living here for three generations,” Roohi says.
Vegetable seller Munni Begum needs the birth certificates of her two kids. “I have been coming here for two weeks, but the records have not been found,” she said.
Munni was informed about the process to be followed when records are not found, yet she is unable to understand what is needed.
Similarly, Haseena Begum has been told about the process. “I am coming here for more than 15 days, but they are not showing me the records,” she states.
Several others like them are in a state of panic.
Daily wager Nathu Dongre, a resident of Somwari Quarters in east Nagpur, says he came for the addition of his son’s name in the birth certificate. “He was born in 1992. I never felt the need to do so, but now it is important,” he said, without referring to the NRC-CAA controversy.
“This is just to keep a record,” Dongre adds, pointing towards the large number of Muslims around him.
Officials say that from not more than three to four daily queries, the number has jumped to 300-340 visitors daily. In January, 5,581 citizens visited the department searching for birth and death certificates-related issues. Of this, 4,643 were Muslims.
The number of non-Muslims too — though in double digits only — is considerably higher than before, when very few people would trickle in to the office through the day.
A bulk of these people belong to the lower and middle income groups. Officials are having a hard time explaining the nitty-grittier of the process to them.
Those unable to decipher which identity proofs and supporting documents are needed for processing of their applications have been doing the rounds of the NMC headquarters in Civil Lines.
The NMC department had not bothered to maintain a visitor’s register earlier, given the scant footfalls. After the sustained recent rush at the office, however, officials have decided to keep a count of citizens coming there for name corrections, additions and seeking birth and death certificates.
The department is witnessing heavy rush everyday, particularly during morning hours. On Thursday, when TOI visited the department, harried citizens were seen queued up at the lone window manned by two officials.
Roohi Abid, a resident of Pili Nadi on Kamptee Road, has been coming for two days to get the death certificate of her grandfather Hussain Baig, who died in 1963. “We have dadajaan’s school leaving certificate, but need his death certificate to establish that we have been living here for three generations,” Roohi says.
Vegetable seller Munni Begum needs the birth certificates of her two kids. “I have been coming here for two weeks, but the records have not been found,” she said.
Munni was informed about the process to be followed when records are not found, yet she is unable to understand what is needed.
Similarly, Haseena Begum has been told about the process. “I am coming here for more than 15 days, but they are not showing me the records,” she states.
Several others like them are in a state of panic.
Daily wager Nathu Dongre, a resident of Somwari Quarters in east Nagpur, says he came for the addition of his son’s name in the birth certificate. “He was born in 1992. I never felt the need to do so, but now it is important,” he said, without referring to the NRC-CAA controversy.
“This is just to keep a record,” Dongre adds, pointing towards the large number of Muslims around him.
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