Kerala not to implement NPR but would cooperate with Census

Thiruvananthapuram:  The state will not implement the National Population Register (NPR). The decision not to implement NPR was taken at the Cabinet meeting held in the capital on Monday. The government informed the Central Census Commissioner and the State Census Director that the government would not cooperate with the NPR process but will go ahead with the Census.

The government also pointed out that if the centre plans to enforce NPR along with the Census then majority of the people will strongly raise a protest. In the present juncture, the government plans to hold back implementation of NPR and informed this to the Census Commissioner.

The government decision comes in the wake of concerns persisting over the NRC in the country. When the amendments to the Citizenship act came up earlier, the chief minister informed they would not cooperate with NPR.  But concerns and apprehensions emerged among the government employees too in connection with this. Besides, the CPM central committee meet, which concluded yesterday, also issued directions. The Cabinet decided not to implement the NPR based on this.