Dispur keen to resume Aadhaar enrolment process in State

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The General Administration Department (GAD) of the State is contemplating on resuming the Aadhaar enrolment process.

The Aadhaar enrolment process has been suspended in the State since March 19 this year to arrest the spread of COVID-19, before the Lockdown 1.0. Taking biometric data like finger prints for Aadhaar card is suspected to enhance the spread of coronavirus, and that fear led the Aadhaar enrolment process to a grinding halt in the State. With the relaxation in the lockdown and the process of unlock 1.0 underway, the GAD is thinking of resuming the Aadhaar enrolment process that has been delayed much. In fact, the process was started very late in the State.

Talking to The Sentinel, M Angamuthu, Commissioner and Secretary, GAD, said, "We're contemplating on resuming Aadhaar enrolment process under certain conditions like scrupulous adherence to social distancing norms, compulsory wearing of face masks by the public and officials manning Aadhaar enrolment centres as well, making proper hand-washing facilities available at such centres, and all other COVID-19 measures taken up by the Government of India."

Meanwhile, sources said that the government is thinking of resuming Aadhaar enrolment process from June-end if the spread of COVID-19 relents in the State by then.

There were 1,241 Aadhaar enrolment centres under the GAD in the State, and all of them have been suspended. The Aadhaar enrolment works were outsourced to some private farms, but the department was not satisfied with the performance of some of the centres. The closing the poor-performing Aadhaar enrolment centres is under active consideration of the department, sources said.

Even as Aadhaar enrolment centres are manned by officials of private farms, each of such centres has a government official to verify documents.

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