Private sector banks in the South are in a race to set up Aadhaar enrolment and updation facilities, following a recent directive from the Centre, according to an official.
More touchpoints
“The new initiative will enable us to speed up the process of Aadhaar enrolment,” said D.M. Gajare, Assistant Director General, UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India). “The idea is to have more number of touch points,” said he said.
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On July 13, the Centre had advised all commercial banks to provide Aadhaar enrolment and updation facilities at their branches. “Karur Vysya Bank has become the first bank in the country to set up the facility within a short time. Here, Aadhaar enrolment or updation can be done in 15 minutes,” said Mr. Gajare after inaugurating the new facility at the bank’s Nungambakkam branch.
Lakshmi Vilas Bank, City Union Bank, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank in Tamil Nadu and Catholic Syrian Bank in Kerala will follow suit.
“These touch points will be in addition to the ones at nationalised banks, post offices, State government agencies and common service centres. In Tamil Nadu, we have achieved 94% in Aadhaar generation. But, when you take those above 18 years of age, it is 99%,” he said.
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“Unlike the touch points of nationalised banks (located outside the premises), we have installed our enrolment facility within the premises,” said C. Saravanun, general manager, Karur Vysya Bank. “We have invested close to ₹1.5 lakh to ₹2 lakh per installation and plan to add the facility in 75 more branches throughout Tamil Nadu by September,” he said.
City Union Bank is also planning to introduce a similar facility in the next few days in 80 branches.
Meanwhile, Karur Vysya Bank has named P.R. Seshadri as managing director and chief executive officer for a period of three years from the date of assuming charge.