File photo of Home Minister Rajnath Singh
The Centre has set up a task force to expedite pending citizenship requests from nearly one lakh Hindu and Sikh refugees from Pakistan and Bangladesh.
This will cut down the time needed for the process from several years to two months and help the people, many of whom were driven from their homes and financially in dire straits.
The task force will start functioning within two weeks, said a communique from the home ministry.
The move is in line with Prime Minister's Narendra Modi's promise to treat refugees on par with Indian citizens during election rallies in West Bengal.
There are about 400 Pakistani Hindu refugee settlements in cities like Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Jaipur. Most Hindu refugees from Bangladesh live in West Bengal and north-eastern states.
Currently, Hindus and Sikhs from the two neighbouring countries get short-term visa. Those seeking citizenship will have to provide complete documentation. In absence of that, they will be given long-term visas, which can be for 10 to 15 years.
The task force, which will be headed by senior home ministry officials, will coordinate with the state governments to expedite the cases.