Mizoram Begins Biometric Enrolment of Over 29,000 Myanmar Nationals Amid Refugee Crisis

Epress Chronicle | Aizawl, Aug 28 — Mizoram has launched a large-scale biometric enrolment drive to register more than 29,000 Myanmar nationals currently taking shelter in the state after fleeing violence in their country. The initiative, rolled out across all 11 districts, aims to bring better administrative oversight while extending humanitarian assistance.

Refugee Numbers and Locations

State Home Minister K. Sapdanga, speaking during the monsoon session of the Assembly, informed that as of August 11, 2025, Mizoram is hosting 29,046 refugees from Myanmar, most of whom belong to the Chin community that shares close ethnic and cultural ties with the Mizos.

The Champhai district, which borders Myanmar, has the largest concentration with more than 13,500 refugees. Other districts including Serchhip, Lunglei, and Hnahthial have also started enrolment drives.

Progress and Challenges

• The enrolment began in the last week of July, with rollouts between July 28–31.

• So far, only around 1,947 refugees have been successfully registered across districts due to technical glitches, poor internet connectivity, and equipment shortages.

• Initially, 690 refugees were enrolled in the first phase in Champhai. Authorities have since procured new devices to speed up the process.

The National Informatics Centre (NIC) has created a special portal for this initiative, shifting from earlier data-collection methods meant for illegal migrants.

Funding and Support

The Mizoram government allocated ₹38 lakh for the first phase of biometric enrolment to cover the purchase of computers, web cameras, and other devices. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is expected to provide financial support for the subsequent phases.

Humanitarian and Strategic Concerns

The biometric enrolment is seen as crucial for both security management and humanitarian relief. It ensures that displaced persons are documented, enabling authorities to deliver aid more effectively while monitoring cross-border movement.

This comes at a time when the Centre is moving forward with its plan to fence the 510-km India–Myanmar border, a move criticized by local groups including the Young Mizo Association, who argue that it would disrupt deep-rooted ethnic and cultural ties across the border.

Wider Context

The refugee crisis in Mizoram is part of a larger displacement wave triggered by ongoing conflict in Myanmar. Across the Northeast, under the Free Movement Regime (FMR), more than 42,000 Myanmarese nationals have already been biometrically mapped since December 2024, reflecting the scale of the humanitarian challenge.

What Lies Ahead

Despite early hurdles, the Mizoram government is pressing ahead with enrolment. Officials expect smoother progress as connectivity improves and new devices arrive in border districts.

The enrolment drive covers not only the 32,000 Myanmar refugees but also nearly 3,000 individuals from Bangladesh who have sought shelter in the state.