Kerala to issue permanent nativity card to address citizenship concerns, BJP challenges move

Pinarayi Vijayan

• Kerala to introduce photo nativity card as new residency proof document
• Card will replace current nativity certificate and be issued by Tahsildars
• BJP opposes move, calls it separatist and plans legal challenge

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As part of measures to address concerns related to citizenship checks, the Kerala government on Wednesday decided to introduce a nativity card with a photograph as a new identification document to prove residency.

Announcing the decision at a presser on Wednesday, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said that the cabinet has decided to introduce the nativity card as a new identification document to prove that a person is a resident of the state.

“The plight of people who find it difficult to prove their existence is worrying. A person should be able to prove to anyone that he was born and lives in this country or is a permanent resident. For this, the person should have an authentic and legally backed document. For this, the person should have an authentic and legally backed document. The cabinet meeting approved in principle the issuance of a permanent nativity card with a photo in place of the nativity certificate currently issued in the state. The card will be issued as an authentic document with legal backing that can be used at all times and can be used for services related to the state government and other needs. The tahsildars will be responsible for distributing the card,” the CM said.

He added that the revenue department has been tasked with preparing a draft law to give legal effect to this card. The Tahsildar will be responsible for issuing this card. Stating that a nativity certificate is a document that proves a person's birth and long-term residence in a state, he said it does not have statutory legal validity.

Once implemented, the card can be used as a beneficiary identification document for government services. The responsibility for issuing the cards will rest with Tahsildars, the CM added.

However, the announcement triggered sharp reactions from the BJP, which alleged that the move was an example of "dangerous separatist politics." BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar issued a statement saying that the move to provide a special identity document for the people of Kerala would be legally challenged by his party.

He alleged that the proposal to introduce a photo-embedded nativity certificate was a demand that had not even been raised by separatist organisations.