Kolkata, June 04 : The citizenship verification and approval process under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) has gathered momentum in West Bengal, with Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari announcing that nearly 19,000 applicants have already received Indian citizenship certificates from a total of around 1.2 lakh applications submitted in the state.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting at Nabanna on Wednesday, Adhikari said individuals whose applications are still under review would continue to receive benefits under the state’s Annapurna Yojana, ensuring that welfare support remains available while the citizenship process is completed.
Implemented in West Bengal from March 2024, the Citizenship Amendment Act provides a legal route to Indian citizenship for members of six minority communities Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who migrated from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan before December 31, 2014.
The legislation has particular significance for refugee communities that settled in the state over several decades, especially families that crossed into India during and after the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. Among the largest groups seeking citizenship are members of the Matua community, many of whom have long demanded formal recognition of their citizenship status.
Officials have intensified efforts to process applications more efficiently. To reduce the backlog and speed up approvals, the Union government has established two additional empowered committees in West Bengal. These panels are expected to help clear thousands of pending cases awaiting verification and final approval.
In North 24 Parganas district, one of the major centres of CAA applications, several refugee families have already completed the process. Residents of Matuagarh in Bagdah Assembly constituency reported receiving citizenship certificates after waiting several months following submission of their applications. The region has witnessed strong participation in the citizenship programme due to its sizeable refugee population.
At the same time, the state administration has continued its campaign against undocumented migration through a policy aimed at identifying and removing individuals who do not qualify under existing legal provisions. Authorities have indicated that persons found to be residing illegally in the country could face deportation proceedings after due verification.
The implementation of the citizenship law continues to generate political debate in the state. While supporters view it as a long-awaited measure for refugee rehabilitation and legal recognition, critics have called for greater transparency and safeguards to ensure that vulnerable communities are protected during the verification process.
With thousands of applications still under examination, officials expect the number of approved citizenship certificates to rise significantly in the coming months as additional committees begin reviewing pending cases across West Bengal.