AADHAAR enrollment: Drive to speed up within December 31

Taking into consideration the huge rush for AADHAAR enrollment and to also streamline and make the process speedier

* Dispur prepares 'Micro Plan'

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Taking into consideration the huge rush for AADHAAR enrollment and to also streamline and make the process speedier, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has instructed the GAD (General Administration Department) to initiate the necessary steps in this direction. Meanwhile, the GAD has prepared a 'Micro Plan' and directed the DCs to ensure that the maximum number of enrollment is done within December 31.

While the process is carried out under the 'Unique Identification Authority of India' (UIDAI), the GAD is the State Registrar for Assam.

At present, only 30 per cent of the estimated 3.30 crore population across the State have AADHAAR cards.

A recent meeting among officials of the UIDAI and GAD took into account the progress of the enrollment process across Assam during the last 30 days. Altogether 13,18,843 persons got themselves registered in the total 1,905 AADHAAR biometric-collection machines that were operational during this period. However, if December 31, 2020 (as mentioned above) is taken as the deadline then the State will require 7,326 such machines.

The meeting further found that a few districts lack adequate number of biometric-collection machines. While Sivasagar has only 16 such machines, there are 17 in Dibrugarh followed by 23 each in Dibrugarh and Majuli; 25 each in West Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao; 28 in Tinsukia; 30 in Jorhat; 31 in Udalguri; and 32 in Kamrup (Metro) among several other districts that need more biometric-collection machines.

The district having the highest number of 109 biometric collection machines is Biswanath.

Talking to The Sentinel, GAD Commissioner Secretary M.S. Manivannan said, "We're targeting the maximum number of people to be registered in the AADHAAR process by December 31, 2020. The DCs have been directed to act as per the 'Micro Plan'. Steps have been also initiated to increase the number of biometric collection machines. The plan is to collect 30 to 40 persons in a single such machine daily. This will be strictly monitored from now on."

The free AADHAAR card is mandatory to get benefits of various Central schemes.

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Dima Hasao