Bihar Grants First Citizenship Certificate Under CAA
In a historic step, Bihar issued its first-ever citizenship certificate under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019. The certificate was granted to 60-year-old Sumitra Rani Saha from Ara during a state-level empowered committee meeting on Friday.
The meeting, chaired by M Ramachandran, Director of Census and Citizen Registration, took place at the Bihar Secretariat in Patna.
Who Is Sumitra Rani Saha?
Sumitra Rani Saha, a resident of Bhojpur district, became the first person in Bihar to receive citizenship under the amended act. Her application was submitted in October 2024 and reviewed by the district-level committee before being approved through the CAA portal.
Saha currently resides in Ara Town with her daughter, Aishwarya Prasad, who runs a home appliances shop.
Recalling her journey, Saha said she lived in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, for her education due to her family’s financial struggles. She returned to India in 1985 and settled in Ara after marrying businessman Parmeshwar Prasad.
“I used to travel to Kolkata for visa renewals. In 2024, during a renewal, I was informed about the CAA and applied for citizenship,” Saha said.
Daughter’s Role in Securing Citizenship
Aishwarya Prasad, Saha’s daughter, played a crucial role in the application process.
“My mother lost her husband to cancer in 2020. After his death, I took care of her and managed our family business. Since October 2024, I have been working to get her Indian citizenship so she can avail government schemes,” Aishwarya shared.
Significance of the Move
This certificate marks the first implementation of the CAA in Bihar. It highlights the state’s commitment to granting citizenship to eligible individuals under the act’s provisions.
The CAA, enacted in 2019, allows non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan to apply for Indian citizenship if they arrived before December 31, 2014.
To qualify, applicants must:
- Have lived in India for at least six years before 2014.
- Show knowledge of one of the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
- Provide documents like passports, identity cards, or land records.
Bihar’s move is seen as a significant administrative step in implementing the controversial act at the state level.
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