Many were found accepting photocopied forms sold anywhere between Rs 4 and 10, in nearby shops
Geeta Desai and Yogesh Naik
Posted On Saturday, April 09, 2011 at 08:55:21 AM
About two months ago, when the ambitious Unique Identification Card (UID) project was launched, it was touted as a means to reduce excessive, time-consuming paperwork and put an end to fake identities.
But the high-tech ID card - meant to electronically store your biometric information - has stumbled on the very first hurdle.
UID centres in the city have run out of enrolment forms. Also, while some are rightfully sending the UID aspirants back, others, are using the photocopies of the forms - ignoring the fact that the forms too bear a unique number as the IDs.
But the high-tech ID card - meant to electronically store your biometric information - has stumbled on the very first hurdle.
UID centres in the city have run out of enrolment forms. Also, while some are rightfully sending the UID aspirants back, others, are using the photocopies of the forms - ignoring the fact that the forms too bear a unique number as the IDs.
Left: Mili Shetty holds copies of a UID form which she bought from a shop.
Right: A message scribbled on the centre’s gate saying registration will be done on May 5
There are four enrolment agencies operating across the city. Though all enrolment centres are not operational yet, out of the proposed 146 UID centres, 134 have been activated. Every centre is expected to enrol 250 people per day.
According to the figures of people being enrolled in UID, less than 125 people are being registered daily.
Staff of ‘Adhaar’ kendra at Charkop, Kandivli-west, was found turning away the residents of the area when they approached the centre for the enrolment forms, but barely 50 metres away from the centre, a stationery shop was seen selling the form for anywhere between Rs 4 and Rs10.
Mili Shetty, a resident of sector number 8 of Charkop, Kandivli-west, said that she made three trips to the centre and was asked to come on Friday.
When Shetty went there on Friday, she was told that the forms will be available on May 5. When she insisted on the form, it was suggested that she should buy a photocopied form from the shop.
Acting on Shetty’s tip, Mumbai Mirror correspondents approached the centre as an UID aspirant, they, too, were sent back.
A staff member at the Adhaar centre said, “We are out of stock. We will be distributing the forms only after May 5.” When we asked if we can get a form from somewhere else, maybe another centre, we were directed to a stationary shop.
The owner of Adarsh Novelty, a stationery shop few metres from the centre, made two photocopies of the form available with him, and charged us Rs 4 each for the copies.
We then took the form to the Adhaar centre. When asked if these photocopied forms – bearing same serial numbers – will be a accepted, the official said, “Just fill the forms. Leave the rest to us.”
Even in Ghatkopar, west and east, shops near Adhaar centres were selling the UID forms, while the centres themselves didn’t have forms.
Mangesh Mohite, the head of UID Card centre at Municipal School no 3, Ghatkopar-east, said, “The forms got over three days ago. There has been a mad rush for the forms. We will get more forms on Monday.’’
Ghatkopar corporator Pravin Chheda said, “People in slums are showing greater enthusiasm for the scheme. They are making a beeline for UID cards.’’
UID’s deputy director-general of western India, Ajaybhushan Pandey, told Mumbai Mirror, “Each form has a specific number on it. Photocopied forms are useless. Besides, there is no reason for panic.
We will carry out the programme for the next two years. In fact, there will be a programme for every polling station wherein forms will be distributed at doorsteps and every one will be covered.’’
Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner who is incharge of implementation of UID scheme in the city, said, “The forms are for free.
Selling forms is an offence. The assistant commissioner of R-south Sanjog Kabare has been asked to conduct an independent inquiry into the matter.”
According to the figures of people being enrolled in UID, less than 125 people are being registered daily.
Staff of ‘Adhaar’ kendra at Charkop, Kandivli-west, was found turning away the residents of the area when they approached the centre for the enrolment forms, but barely 50 metres away from the centre, a stationery shop was seen selling the form for anywhere between Rs 4 and Rs10.
Mili Shetty, a resident of sector number 8 of Charkop, Kandivli-west, said that she made three trips to the centre and was asked to come on Friday.
When Shetty went there on Friday, she was told that the forms will be available on May 5. When she insisted on the form, it was suggested that she should buy a photocopied form from the shop.
Acting on Shetty’s tip, Mumbai Mirror correspondents approached the centre as an UID aspirant, they, too, were sent back.
A staff member at the Adhaar centre said, “We are out of stock. We will be distributing the forms only after May 5.” When we asked if we can get a form from somewhere else, maybe another centre, we were directed to a stationary shop.
The owner of Adarsh Novelty, a stationery shop few metres from the centre, made two photocopies of the form available with him, and charged us Rs 4 each for the copies.
We then took the form to the Adhaar centre. When asked if these photocopied forms – bearing same serial numbers – will be a accepted, the official said, “Just fill the forms. Leave the rest to us.”
Even in Ghatkopar, west and east, shops near Adhaar centres were selling the UID forms, while the centres themselves didn’t have forms.
Mangesh Mohite, the head of UID Card centre at Municipal School no 3, Ghatkopar-east, said, “The forms got over three days ago. There has been a mad rush for the forms. We will get more forms on Monday.’’
Ghatkopar corporator Pravin Chheda said, “People in slums are showing greater enthusiasm for the scheme. They are making a beeline for UID cards.’’
UID’s deputy director-general of western India, Ajaybhushan Pandey, told Mumbai Mirror, “Each form has a specific number on it. Photocopied forms are useless. Besides, there is no reason for panic.
We will carry out the programme for the next two years. In fact, there will be a programme for every polling station wherein forms will be distributed at doorsteps and every one will be covered.’’
Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner who is incharge of implementation of UID scheme in the city, said, “The forms are for free.
Selling forms is an offence. The assistant commissioner of R-south Sanjog Kabare has been asked to conduct an independent inquiry into the matter.”
