Assam eyes more Aadhaar centres to curb rush, rein in ‘middlemen’
GUWAHATI | SEPT 04, 2020:
The Assam government is looking to expedite Aadhaar enrollment on a "mission mode" and enhance surveillance in the wake of allegations of unscrupulous sections taking advantage of the unprecedented rush at many enrolment centres across the state and charging money from people.
The Assam government has appointed six vendors across the state for Aadhaar enrollment, and the latest directive has been to enrol PM Awas Yojana beneficiaries for those who do not have Aadhaar cards, since mid-August.
Over the past couple of weeks though, many enrolment centres, especially in the small towns, have witnessed several hundreds of people queuing up at each centre from the wee hours for the simple reason that Aadhaar cards have been made mandatory before a certain date for the PMAY beneficiaries to be eligible for scheme benefits.
The rush apparently has become worse in the past three-four days with panic-stricken PMAY beneficiaries queuing up from midnight hours.
"To clear the rush, a letter was sent yesterday from the general administration department emphasising arrangements for enrollment centres in each of the 81 gaon panchayats in addition to the existing enrolment centres so that beneficiaries are not deprived of Aadhaar cards," an employee of an Aadhaar vendor in Goalpara told TNT-The Northeast Today on Friday.
The letter stated that in view of the increasing demand for Aadhaar cards by PMAY beneficiaries, other suitable vendors may also be engaged in addition to the existing ones at district-specific rates initially for a period of three months.
There are 66,000 PMAY beneficiaries who have not enrolled for Aadhaar cards in Goalpara district. Currently, 40 centres are operating in the district.
"This is a huge number to cater to in such a short span of time and so two machines have been set up at some centres with high enrolment while sub-centres have been opened. Once we have more centres, the rush will be controlled and there will be no scope for middlemen," he said.
Meanwhile, gullible aspirants in Goalpara district have alleged that some middlemen have charged rates between Rs 150 to Rs 350 for the prompt delivery of the Aadhaar cards because people have to wait for about two months before the cards get delivered to the respective post offices.
"They are also charging Rs 100 for an enrolment form which is supposed to be free of cost," a resident of Agia in the district, informed.
An official from Lakhimpur district administration in central Assam told TNT-The Northeast Today that an inquiry team has started a probe into allegations of middlemen playing a role during the process and a report is expected soon.
"We have deputed officials for inspection in vulnerable areas, where the rush of aspirants is more than expected, and keeping a close watch on proceedings," he said.
As many as 31 centres have been set up in the cooperative centres of Lakhimpur district apart from sub-centres at the panchayat level.
Sources allege that the presence of middlemen has been more in the small towns and villages besides outskirts of towns and cities.
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