Kerala to Issue Nativity Cards to Ease Citizenship Concerns

Thiruvananthapuram: Seeking to address public concerns over the Citizenship Amendment Act and the proposed revision of the electoral roll based on SIR by the central government, the Kerala government has announced a “Nativity Card” scheme.

Finance Minister K N Balagopal, in his Budget speech, said legislation would be introduced to issue Nativity Cards to all citizens in the state. An initial allocation of 20 crore rupees has been set aside for the scheme’s preliminary steps. The implementation of SIR, he noted, has generated widespread anxiety among people, including minority communities.

The state has decided to issue photo-bearing Nativity Cards to affirm the identity of people who have lived in Kerala for generations and to alleviate their concerns. The government is projecting the new card as Kerala’s strong response on matters related to citizenship.

A separate law will be enacted to provide legal backing for the scheme. The unified card is also expected to eliminate the need for residents to repeatedly obtain nativity certificates from village offices for various requirements.

The minister added that safeguarding the rights of citizens as Keralites remains a key priority of the government. He said people would be mobilised to resist what he described as the Centre’s economic and political encroachments. An additional 10 crore rupees has been earmarked in the Budget for initiatives aimed at strengthening communal harmony.