Aadhaar Process To Be Initiated from August-End in Guwahati

* Six firms to carry out the documentation in 1241 enrollment centres across 10 zones

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Aug 8: It is now official: Aadhaar implementation in Assam will finally commence from the fag end of this month. Though the exact date is yet to be announced, a high-level source in the General Administration Department (GAD) told The Sentinel, “The Aadhaar implementation work is slated to commence at the fag end of August. It is expected that the process would be completed within a year’s time.”

The Deputy Commissioner (DC) would be the enrollment agency under whose direct supervision the Aadhaar implementation work would be carried out. All the DCs have been notified in this regard, informed the source.

The entire State has been divided into 10 zones. There would be 1241 enrollment centres. “Such centres would be lodged only in government premises having both electricity and net facilities. The respective DCs have already identified such locations,” the source said, adding: “The document verifiers would be government employees.”

This concept of having common identification to the citizens is already popular in many countries and India joined the league in 2009 when the Government of India established the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Its primary function was to develop and issue the Aadhaar card. In fact, Aaadhaar is the world’s largest biometric ID system.

The State Government has shortlisted six private firms to carry out the work that includes the collection of the biometric and demographic details of citizens. The firms would be granted the official work order after August 15. Selected by UIDAI as its Registrar in Assam, GAD carried out the shortlisting following a scanning of the work plans submitted by the firms.

The entire cost of the Aadhaar implementation work would be borne by the UIDAI. The UIDAI collected biometric and demographic details of citizens are stored in a centralized UID (Unique Identification Number) database.

The UIDAI issues a 12-digit unique identification number that is called Aadhaar Card to Indian citizens. The Aadhaar Card Enrolment Form can be downloaded online through UIDAI website or by visiting nearest Aadhaar Enrolment Centres/Banks/Post-offices etc. Once the application has been submitted, the Aadhaar card can be downloaded online. Aadhaar is considered a proof of residence and not a proof of citizenship.