The Indian government has given citizenship to Sumitra Prasad, also known as Rani Saha, who has been living in Ara city, Bihar, for 40 years. This is the first case in Bihar where citizenship has been granted under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Sumitra has been living in India on a visa since 1985 and runs a grocery shop on Chitra Toli Road in Ara. She faced a long and challenging journey to obtain Indian citizenship. Over the years, she made numerous visits to police stations and embassies as part of the process.

Her hard work finally paid off when her citizenship was approved under the State Level Empowered Committee, in accordance with the Citizenship Rules of 2009. This milestone brings to an end decades of uncertainty for Sumitra, who has lived in Bihar's Ara city since 1985.

Sumitra's life has been shaped by major historical events. At the age of five in 1970, she moved to her aunt's home in what was then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). She grew up and completed her education there, but everything changed when Bangladesh became independent on December 16, 1971.

In January 1985, Sumitra returned to India and was reunited with her family in Katihar district, Bihar, marking a new beginning for her.

After returning to India, Sumitra's life took a new turn when she married Parmeshwar Prasad on March 10, 1985, and they settled in Ara, Bihar. Together, they built a life and raised three daughters: Priyanka, Priyadarshini, and Aishwarya.

However, in 2010, tragedy struck when her husband passed away from bone cancer. Suddenly, Sumitra was left to navigate life as the sole provider for her family. Despite the overwhelming challenges, she remained determined, working hard to support her daughters and keep their lives moving forward.

She expressed her gratitude to Prime Minister Modi's government, saying, "When I was five, I went to my aunt's house in Bangladesh. By the time I came back to India in 1985, Bangladesh had become its own country. I've lived here ever since, but only now have I received citizenship. I'm grateful to Prime Minister Modi and the Indian government."

Sumitra’s journey to getting Indian citizenship has been long and full of challenges. She lived on a visa for over 40 years in Ara, Bihar, facing many obstacles, from paperwork issues to social pressures. Finally, she was granted citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Sumitra shared how hard it was living on a visa. Every year, she had to go through difficult paperwork, visiting police stations and embassies. People in the area often threatened to send her back to Bangladesh and warned her about jail time.

In 2023, delays in renewing her visa led to a visit to the Arah police station, where she was told to return to Bangladesh. For the last three visa renewals, she had to travel to Kolkata, which made things even harder.
In 2024, while applying for her visa in Kolkata, Sumitra and her family learned about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Her youngest daughter, Aishwarya, took charge and started the citizenship process in October 2024.

 Despite the struggles, Aishwarya completed the process and helped secure Indian citizenship for Sumitra.
Sumitra’s late husband, Parmeshwar Prasad, ran a home appliance shop in Ara to support the family. After her husband's death in 2010, the family faced even more struggles.

Her two older daughters are married, and her youngest daughter, Aishwarya, now cares for her. Due to Sumitra's visa status, they couldn't access basic services like Aadhaar, ration cards, or gas connections.

With Sumitra now receiving citizenship, the family is relieved. Aishwarya said, "My mother was denied government services for years. Now, we can get her documents and benefits. During the pandemic, the visa issue was stressful, but this citizenship brings us relief."