NEW DELHI, June 14: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday chaired a high-level meeting of senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to review arrangements for a committee constituted to examine demographic changes in different parts of the country.
During the meeting, it was decided that the MHA would provide all necessary administrative, logistical, and operational assistance to ensure the smooth functioning of the committee.
The panel, led by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar, has been tasked with conducting a detailed assessment of demographic changes, particularly in border regions, metropolitan centres, and industrial hubs. The committee is expected to study factors contributing to population shifts and recommend measures to address emerging challenges.
Officials said the committee has already held its initial meeting and finalized its broad agenda. The panel will undertake field visits to various regions, including border districts, to gather firsthand information and evaluate demographic patterns linked to illegal migration and other contributing factors.
The Home Minister directed the committee to carry out a comprehensive examination of changes in population structures and submit practical, time-bound recommendations to deal with the issue.
Apart from Justice Naolekar, the committee comprises the Census Commissioner, former IAS officer Durga Shankar Mishra, former IPS officer Balaji Srivastava, economist Dr. Shamika Ravi, and the Joint Secretary (Foreigners-I), Ministry of Home Affairs, who will serve as Member Secretary.
The committee was announced by the Union Home Minister last month. At the time, Shah described demographic change as an issue with implications for national security, social stability, law and order, and the protection of indigenous and tribal communities.
According to its terms of reference, the committee will examine challenges arising from demographic changes, including those linked to illegal immigration. It will also analyze factors such as cross-border movements, economic migration, employment opportunities, and socio-environmental influences that may contribute to population shifts.
The panel is expected to submit its findings and recommendations after conducting extensive consultations and field studies across different regions of the country.
In Jammu and Kashmir, concerns over demographic trends have frequently been raised in public and political discourse, particularly in districts located along the International Border. Security agencies have also examined cases involving illegal settlements and their possible implications for law enforcement and border security.
The committee’s findings are expected to provide a broader understanding of demographic developments and assist policymakers in framing appropriate responses to emerging challenges.
