AT the 70th MIC annual general meeting recently, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced that a blueprint for the Indian community that will be launched in January will include all aspects of development for the community.
Najib’s concern about the advancement and wellbeing of the community is commendable.
We are confident that his initiatives will bring more economic opportunities and benefits to the community.
The 1.8 million Indians constitute a large proportion of the bottom 40 per cent of the country’s 31.7 million population.
One of the issues facing the community is stateless children without identity documents.
They form the bulk of the estimated 100,000 stateless persons in the country.
Without a birth certificate, children cannot enrol in a national school, cannot apply for an identity card or be eligible for subsidised healthcare.
The children, on reaching adulthood, cannot be legally employed. They cannot get married or apply for travel documents.
Unemployed and dejected, they turn to crime and add to the social ills of the community.
People in such a predicament are mostly from large rubber plantations acquired for development and the workers displaced.
Irresponsible parents, alcoholism, unemployment, poverty, broken homes and other social problems are blamed for the failure to register children’s births.
They are victims of circumstances.
They are not illegal immigrants or security threats. Their plight merits special consideration. Based on recommendations of prominent persons, their case can be considered as late registration under Section 12 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1957.
It is hoped the government will address the problem soon so that they can stand on their own feet and live with dignity.
S. SUNDARESON, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.