15, Nov 2018 | CJP Team

CJP’s Volunteer Motivators (VMs) are committed to helping people all over Assam with filing claims and objections for the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Our toll-free helpline allows our volunteers to not only immediately help callers, but also expand our reach to areas that have thus far not received much assistance.

Recently, a college student called in to CJP’s helpline, saying that a larger number of people had been excluded from the final draft of the NRC in his locality, Balijan, and in nearby villages under the Mikirbheta police station of Assam’s Morigaon district. The young student sought help from CJP for the people in his area who need it the most. Our helpline centre volunteer Mustak Alom Choudhury immediately forwarded this message to Baharul Islam, VM, Nagaon. Baharul Islam visited the area, and reported back. He requested that the central team visit the area, as around 2,000 people were facing complex problems. The state team, led by Zamser Ali, visited Balijan village to take stock of the situation. They counselled more than 200 people and provided advice regarding various issues before returning Guwahati. 

Over four million people have been left out of the NRC draft, most of them from socio-economically backward communities. Now CJP, drawing from its previous experience in providing legal aid in Gujarat, will step in with a  multi-faceted team of lawyers and volunteers to ensure that these people receive a fair chance while filing claims across 18 of the worst affected districts. Your contribution can help cover the costs of a legal team, travel, documentation and technological expenses. Please donate generously here.

This is not the first time a call to CJP’s helpline has spurred our Volunteer Motivators to venture out. In another case, a resident of the Darrang district called CJP’s helpline, seeking help for people under an NSK in the district, after which several volunteers, including Zamser Ali and Alep Uddin, VM, Darrang, traveled to the area to provide help and advice.

In late October, the toll-free number received a call from a resident of Deoshri village in Assam’s Chirang district. Volunteer Motivators Pranjal Choudhury and Abul Kalam Azad traveled 60 kilometres to Deoshri, crossing river, hill, and forest, to help the village’s residents with their NRC documents.

Our toll-free helpline has, in this way, allowed us to reach and help those who may desperately require assistance with their NRC forms and documentation, but lack access to the necessary aid and information. CJP’s impact has also been magnified with our Volunteer Motivators training Community Volunteers in various districts, who then provide assistance with the NRC process. 

Here’s a selection of photographs of the team’s visits to Morigaon and Darrang: 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Related:

CJP in Action: Volunteer Motivators and Public Campaigns in Assam

CJP in Action: Volunteer Motivators helping people file NRC claims in Assam

CJP’s Volunteer Motivators reach out in Assam

CJP in Action: Our attempt to avert a Humanitarian Crisis in Assam

CJP in Action: Words of encouragement pour in as CJP’s NRC helpline rings off the hook

CJP in Action: No hurdle too big for our Volunteer Motivators