Biometric locking: Panel to deal it

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Assembly is worried over a section of people who cannot get Aadhaar cards and benefits of various schemes as their biometric details remained locked with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) during the NRC update process.

During the Question Hour, AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam (junior) raised the issue in the House today. The MLA said, "Over 19 lakh people cannot get their Aadhaar cards as their biometric details remained blocked with the MHA. These people cannot avail of the benefits of various schemes, nor can they get PAN cards. They even cannot open bank accounts. The government needs to do something tangible to make them avail scheme benefits."

In his reply, Panchayat and Rural Development (P&RD) Minister Ranjeet Dass said, "The government is also worried over this issue. The last Cabinet meeting discussed this issue."

Speaker Biswajit Daimary said, "The issue needs a discussion with the Chief Minister. The State Government may request the Central Government to solve the problem."

Dass said, "Following a directive from the Supreme Court in November 2018, the Ministry of Home Affairs locked the biometric details of those who claimed for the inclusion of their names in the final NRC."

MLA Zakir Hussain of the Congress said, "For the past two years, the government has been assuring the House of trying to solve this problem. The government needs to set a timeframe to solve the problem."

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika said, "The State Government has already written two letters to the MHA to unlock the biometric details of these people. The Cabinet formed a committee with three ministers to solve this problem. The committee will hold a meeting with the AASU on March 21. It will meet all other organizations to find ways to solve the problem later."

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