Apply for Aadhaar in post offices, regret later

Details on PDS, LPG, etc included only at State recognised centres

Almost everyday, there is a beeline in front of Aadhaar registration centres including the post offices where the facility is available.

In fact, already 1,05,01,236 people have applied for UID in Karnataka (as on December 4, 2012) and the target is to cover 80 per cent before July 2012, said Dr D S Raveendran, the State Registrar for Aadhaar and also the Chief Executive Officer for e-goverance in State. The population of Karnataka is 6.11 crore.

7 schemes

Though the criteria for the UID is the same throughout India, the authorities concerned have linked 7 schemes to Aadhaar scheme in Karnataka (the only State to include such a facility in India) through an order dated May 20, 2011, to create Karnataka Resident Data Hub (KRDH), informed Aadhaar Master Trainer (for Dakshina Kannada district) Pradeep D’Souza, who is also the Assistant Director in the District Statistical Department.

Accordingly, whenever a person applies for Aadhaar scheme in State government authorised centres, the details pertaining to 7 schemes are included in the database.

The 7 schemes include: (1) Public Distribution System, (2) LPG connection (both come under Food department); (3) MGNREGS (Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department); (4) Irrigation pumpset (Energy department); (5) Milk Co-operative Society (Animal Husbandry department), (6) Bhagyalakshmi scheme (Women & Child Welfare department); and (7) Social Security benefits (Revenue deparment) including (a) Sandhya Suraksha scheme, (b) Destitute Widow Pension, (c) Physically Handicapped Pension, and (d) Indira Gandhi Old Age Pension.

However, when a person applies for UID in post offices or banks (which come under Central government), the persons concerned will not include the details pertaining to above mentioned 7 schemes, as it is not mandatory to obtain UID card.

The catch

Though several schemes may not be applicable to most of the people (who do not come under BPL), the first two (PDS and LPG) schemes are part and parcel of a large number of people. In future, when the authorities concerned check the UID number and if there is no entry of PDS or LPG (especially with those persons who received UID through post offices), they will have to visit the departments concerned to submit the details (or else the LPG supply may stop).

When queried, Dr Raveendra expressed his helplessness and said that it is not in his control as post offices come under Central government and moreover, it is only the special scheme of State government to include the service in Aadhaar scheme.

“Registering in post office will not affect in anyway, except the fact that the person concerned may have to visit the departments concerned again to update the information,” he said.

In DKdistrict

Giving details on the facilities available in Dakshina Kannada district, Statistical Officer (Social Security Wing) K S Sandhya said that there are 7 centres in DK where details pertaining to 7 schemes will be included while collecting information for UID. They are located at: Deputy Commissioner’s office premises, K S Rao Memorial Trust Hall, Light House Hill Road; Community Hall, Urwa; MCC sub-office, commerial complex, Kadri; Ward office at Katipalla, TMC building at Moodbidri and at Shirthadi.

At the same time, the facility is also available in 13 post offices at Pandeshwar (Head Post Office), Balmatta, Kulshekar, Hampankatta, Kankanady, Ullal, Mulki, Surathkal, Ashoknagar, Bejai, Bajpe (all in Mangalore division), Puttur, Sullia and Karkala (all 3 in Puttur division).

While nearly 40,000 people have already applied for UID through centres recognised by the State government, the number of people who applied through Central government centres like post offices has crossed 47,000 (who may have to visit the departments concerned again to update their information on PDS, LPG, etc).

Since the authorities concerned in State have expressed helplessness in preventing people from going to post offices, it is left to the people to opt where they want to go to avoid a re-visit in near future.
DH News Service

How unique is UID?

How unique is UID? Well. Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique number issued by the UIDAI. The number will be stored in a centralized database and linked to the basic demographics and biometric information – photograph, 10 fingerprints and iris – of each individual, which is easily verifiable in an online. The random number generated will be devoid of any classification based on caste, creed, religion and geography.

The possibility of duplication of fingerprints is one in 10 crore while the possibility of duplication of iris is one in 25 crore and the possibility (probability) of matching photograph, fingerprints and iris is ‘zero,’ that makes the UID unique, literally.

Rs 41.5 per UID

Each UID costs Rs 41.50 out of which Rs 38.50 is borne by Central government while Rs 3 is borne by the Karnataka government. The total cost to issue UID to all the people in India, thus equal to 41.5 X 121 crore!

Is it worth? According to experts, once all the citizens get UID, much more money can be saved than it is spent on issuing UID cards.

225 stations in DK by Jan 2012

The district is supposed to have 225 Aadhaar centres, but till date only 7 have opened in the district as of now. Dr Raveendra said that by December end, 125 stations will be opened in DK and by January 2012, all the 225 stations will be opened.

Till recently, the only condition for operators was a ‘training completion certificate’ issued by UIDAI. But the rule has been changed and at present, the UID for operators too is a must. Hence, the delay, he added.