With a fast-approaching deadline and sizeable part of the population still outside the Aadhaar net, the information technology (IT) department is making its last-ditch efforts towards 100 per cent coverage in the State by December.
Now, Pragya Kendras will be used as a permanent enrolment centres to reach the three crore-plus target.“A permanent Aadhaar Kendra will be established in all Pragya Kendras. We have issued a circular to that effect,” said SV Sahu, deputy director of the IT department.Each Pragya Kendra in urban areas will get a permanent Aadhaar Kendra, while five panchayats in rural areas will get one Kendra.
According to the department, around 2.80 crore have been enrolled for Aadhaar. “The objective of establishing a permanent Kendra is to cover the residual population. There will always be some people outside the Aadhaar net so we need a permanent centre to keep the enrolment going,” added Sahu.However, a senior official of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) confided that the figure might be inflated. “The base year for deciding size of the population to cover was 2011. So, it is possible we may not have covered as many people as claimed by some agencies,” he added, seeking anonymity.
Pragya Kendras will also be used for upgrading, correcting Aadhaar information once enrolment agencies roll back. “We also need permanent kendras to take care of rectification of details,” maintained Sahu. Meanwhile, larger agencies are said to be leaving the State for more attractive destinations to run enrolment business, forcing the department to issue fresh tenders for as many as 18 districts.
“It is no more a lucrative proposition for some bigger agencies. That is why a few did not apply for extension of the contract,” said Sahu, adding, “Contract has been awarded in as many as six districts out of 18 districts.”