UIDAI to set up Aadhaar Seva Kendras in 53 cities

In a bid to provide hassle-free services, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) will be setting up Aadhar Seva Kendras in 53 cities along the lines of Passport Seva Kendras.

The decision, according to the UIDAI, will help in the enrolment and updating of Aadhaar services in a more convenient and secure manner.

Speaking on the need to create more awareness on the usage of Aadhaar, UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey said, "The UIDAI is endeavouring identity inclusion and creating awareness about usage of Aadhaar in various forms such as masked Aadhaar, QR code, Offline Aadhaar XML, eAadhaar, mAadhaar, etc., in a manner so that there is no denial of services and benefits with Aadhaar and people's privacy vis a vis Aadhaar is enhanced many folds."

 

"With Aadhaar Seva Kendras, we are building hassle-free and resident-friendly enrolment and update facility infrastructure to ensure ease in Aadhaar related services to residents. Almost 114 Kendras in 53 cities and towns including all state capitals will be established in the first phase. These Kendras will be in addition to the centres operating in banks, post offices and in government premises," Pandey added.

Explaining the functions of the ASKs, UIDAI sources said that these kiosks will be supervised directly by its own employees. The Kendras will also provide appointment-based Aadhaar enrolment and update services to any resident in safe environs through multiple stations working simultaneously. Moreover, special services will be provided to residents so that they need to wait in queues as they can book a prior appointment and visit the Kendra accordingly.

Talking about its decision to shift Aadhaar enrolment and update centres in banks, post offices, and state government premises under the direct supervision of government or bank officials, the UIDAI sources said that it did so after the Supreme Court passed its judgement in the Binoy Viswam case, also known as PAN-Aadhar linking case, delivered in 2017. Two Aadhar Seva Kendras will be present in each of these 53 cities and they will also be under direct supervision of the UIDAI officials akin to those of Passport Seva Kendras that are supervised by the passport officials.

"It is important that the aforesaid apprehensions are assuaged by taking proper measures so that confidence is instilled among the public at large that there is no chance of unauthorised leakage of data whether it is done by tightening the operations of the contractors who are given the job of enrolment, they being private persons or by prescribing severe penalties to those who are found guilty of leaking the details, is the outlook of the Government. However, we emphasise that measures in this behalf are absolutely essential and it would be in the fitness of things that proper scheme in this behalf is devised at the earliest," UIDAI said in a statement.

"The process of phasing out private Aadhaar centres is to be achieved by establishing 30000 supervised enrolment stations in banks, post offices and government premises. The number of supervised stations will further increase once the Aadhaar Seva Kendras are set up. These Kendras each with eight or 16 stations depending on the population of that city, will start functioning within the next few months. ASKs, on the model of Passport Seva Kendras, will be run and supervised by UIDAI officials stationed full time at each Kendra," it added.