Residents of Pallavaram, Chromepet, Hasthinapuram and Keezhkattalai are unable to enrol for the biometric process for obtaining Aadhaar cards due to a shortage of National Population Register (NPR) forms at Pallavapuram municipality.
“The problem has been persisting for around two months. The Kancheepuram district collectorate officials say the NPR forms are distributed free. But, due to shortage of NPR forms, people end up making photocopies of these forms for which they have to pay,” K. Pazhani, a resident said.
A photocopy of the NPR form costs between Rs. 8 to 10, he pointed out.
Out of the 10,000 filled-in NPR forms received by the municipality, only 2,000-2,500 are original. The rest are photocopies.
“Also, people who cannot fill the forms take the help of persons in and around the municipality office playing a fee of Rs.20,” a resident said on condition of anonymity.
“The municipality should have put up a model of a filled-in NPR forms for the benefit of the general public like me,” she added.
V. Santhanam, president, Federation of Civic and Welfare Associations of Pallavapuram, said, “I have taken up the issue with the Pallavaram MLA P. Dhansingh and written a letter to the Kancheepuram district collectorate regarding the shortage and paid distribution of photocopies of NPR forms. I have also urged him to set up temporary enrolment centres on the eastern side of Chromepet and Hasthinapuram for the benefit of senior citizens and women who have to come a long distance to get themselves enrolled.”
The MLA has promised to take steps to distribute the NPR forms for free to the general public and hold talks with the Kancheepuram district collectorate for establishing temporary enrolment centres, he added.
When contacted, the officials at the Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu, said sufficient forms were supplied to the permanent enrolment centres at periodic intervals.
There was no question of shortage of NPR forms at the centres. “We will look into the issue and sort out the problem at the earliest,” the officials added.
