Aizawl: A meeting on the issuance of fake birth certificates in south Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district, bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh, was held on Thursday.Deputy commissioner Donny Lalruatsanga, who chaired the meeting, said Central Young Lai Association (CYLA) members helped detect a large number of fake certificates. He described the issue as a serious concern and called for concerted action to prevent further illegal issuance.He said several irregular certificates were detected during appeal hearings linked to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He urged registrars of births and deaths to verify applications thoroughly and warned that legal proceedings would be initiated against those involved in manufacturing or issuing fake birth certificates.VL Nghakmawia, deputy director, and RK Lalrinawma, assistant director, of economics and statistics, commended CYLA’s efforts. They said steps were being taken to address staff shortages and that three additional employees would be posted at the Lawngtlai district research officer’s office.CYLA president F Lalrothanga said many fake certificates were detected during the SIR process and urged registrars to exercise greater care and vigilance.The meeting resolved that the district research officer’s office and registrars would use SIR 2005 and SIR 2026 records while processing birth certificate applications. It also decided to conduct online training for registrars before the second week of Nov and submit a compliance report to the deputy commissioner’s office.The secretary of the planning department would be requested to initiate disciplinary action against former registrars from eight villages who allegedly issued fake certificates wilfully. The director of economics and statistics would be requested to instruct registrars to collect fake certificates found within their jurisdictions.The meeting was attended by district officials, CYLA office-bearers and registrars from seven villages: Chamdur ‘P’, Chamdurtlang, Zochachhuah, Sabualtlang, Ngengpuikai, Saibawh and Hmawngbuchhuah.
