Udupi MLA Pramod Madhwaraj on Wednesday urged people not to rush to the head post office here to get enrolled for Aadhaar. In a press release issued here, Mr. Madhwaraj said that those who had already enrolled for National Population Register (NPR) need not apply for Aadhaar. Since both cards would have same details, it was not necessary again to stand in a long queue in front of the head post office for the Aadhaar.
Already 30,000 NPR cards had been distributed in the district, while the remaining NPR cards would be mailed in the coming days. Hence, the people need not become anxious on this issue, he said. According to Additional Deputy Commissioner Kumara, of the population of 12,08,835 in Udupi district, data of 8,62,731 persons (74.95 per cent) had been collected for NPR cards. The second round of NPR enrolment had started in Kundapur taluk last week, he said.
He had been watching the long queue in front of the head post office here for the last two days. Many people had returned empty-handed in spite of standing in the queue for long hours. Mr. Madhwaraj said he discussed the issue with K. Jayaprakash Hegde, Udupi-Chikmagalur MP, M.T. Reju, Deputy Commissioner, and Sudhakar G. Devadiga, Superintendent of Posts. He said he would take up the issue with the Centre so that Aadhar system is made more efficient.
Only 50 families could be enrolled at the head post office for the Aadhaar card daily. There was no last date for enrolment for Aadhaar, he said. As many as 50 tokens would be issued everyday at the head post office here for enrolment for Aadhaar. The enrolment of these 50 persons, who had been issued tokens, would be done on the same day.
Long queues
Many people, including women and senior citizens, were angry that they had to stand for many hours at the Head Post Office just to get the token. Only the first 50 persons standing in the queue can get a token.
The enrolment process, which stopped on April 19 this year, was restarted on July 22. Many people in the queue complained that they had come on Monday also to get the tokens.
John D’Souza (64), a retired private sector employee, said he had come from Karkala at 6.40 a.m. and was waiting to get the token. He had also come on Monday and waited from 7.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. but could not get the token. “I wish the enrolment of Aadhaar was done at Karkala. It is 10.20 a.m. now, but I am still waiting,” he rued.
Ghulam Dastagir, who had come with three other family members from Uchila village at 6 a.m., said on Tuesday, “We had come yesterday also at 9.30 a.m. Since we did not get the tokens yesterday, we came earlier today. It is difficult to bring family members, especially women, and make them wait in long queue for four hours.”
