Delhi government asks schools to prevent enrolment of ‘illegal Bangladeshi’ children

The Delhi government on Monday instructed schools in the capital to prevent the enrolment of undocumented Bangladeshi migrant children and to notify the authorities if there were doubts about a student’s citizenship status.

“Schools must ensure strict admission procedures, verification of students’ documentation to prevent illegal Bangladeshi migrants’ enrolment, implementation of greater scrutiny to detect and prevent unauthorised admissions of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in particular,” said a circular issued by the directorate of education.

The government said that schools must follow a “thorough careful process” while admitting new migrant children, to ensure that “necessary documentation is submitted, verified and handled properly”.

In case of any doubt about the citizenship status of a student, the schools must refer the matter to the police and revenue authorities, the circular added. Apart from government-aided schools, unaided recognised private schools were also asked to comply with these instructions.

The deputy directors of education, at the district and zonal level, have been asked to submit weekly reports in the matter.

Chief Minister Atishi shared the circular on social media with a screenshot of a 2022 post by Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri about providing housing to Rohingya refugees under the Economically Weaker Section category.

“On one side are BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] leaders, who bring Rohingya to Delhi after making...

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