Andhra Pradesh ahead of other States has an ‘aadhaar’ in enrolment

Though the Aadhaar card enrolment started two-and-a-half years ago, and the rush for cards began after it was linked to LPG

Though the pace is tardy, Andhra Pradesh is way ahead in generation of Aadhaar cards in the country. With 5.86 crore cards generated, the State tops in the volume of unique identification numbers. Maharashtra comes second with 5.48 crore card generation followed by Madhya Pradesh (2.36 crore), Tamil Nadu (2.25 crore) and Karnataka (2.22 crore).

However, the enrolment in the State is far from over. Out of the total population of 8.47 crore till date, only 7.6 crore people have enrolled, while the number of Aadhaar cards generated is 5.86 crore. Of this, the number of cards delivered is only 4.7 crore. Nearly 1.15 crore cards are with the Postal Department awaiting delivery, officials say.

Aadhaar card enrolment ought to have been completed by now in the State since the programme started here two-and-a-half years ago. The slowdown is attributed to the lack of interest among people. It is only after it was linked to LPG there is a rush now to obtain the cards.

In respect of Hyderabad, Anantapur, Srikakulam, Chittoor, East Godavari, Krishna, Guntur,Vizianagaram and Nalgonda, more than 90 per cent of enrolment has been completed.

A total of 4,196 enrolment centres are functioning in the State where a minimum of 1.60 lakh enrolments take place everyday.

“By August we will achieve cent per cent enrolment,” says Shankar Shastry, Deputy Director, (Aadhaar), Civil Supplies Department. Statistics show that Aadhaar card enrolment in the State capital has touched 52.71 lakh, while the city population is only 40.10 lakh.

In the neighbouring Ranga Reddy the enrolment is 46.82 lakh as against the population of 52.96 lakh. The combined enrolment of both the districts come to 98 lakh.

The excess enrolment in Hyderabad is attributed to people from other districts getting enrolled here. A large number of persons working in the IT sector, military units and other companies in Hyderabad have got enrolled here, pushing up the figures.

“As per the UIDAI guidelines, any person with residential address can enrol his name anywhere in the country,” says Mr. Shastry.

Though Hyderabad district has achieved 130 per cent enrolment population-wise, still the left-over persons are being covered at the 80 centres with 177 kits. In Ranga Reddy some 7 lakh persons are yet to be enrolled in Tandur and Vikarabad. Once total enrolment is completed, the authorities propose to set up 1,161 permanent enrolment centres across the State in the existing e-seva centres.

“They are for enrolment of new born and for issue of duplicate cards in case of loss,” Mr. Shastry said.

However, the number of LPG consumers in Hyderabad who have linked with Aadhaar is only 5.8 lakh out of 12 lakh. Of these a mere 25 per cent have got their Aadhaar numbers linked to their bank accounts. The cumbersome procedure in banks which calls for filling up forms is proving a problem, particularly to illiterate persons.

“We plan to hold weekly meetings with the lead bank managers and oil companies to speed up bank linkage”, said chief rationing officer Padma.