Senior citizens ‘tough catch’ for UID
It’s difficult to take their biometrics as age wears out finger tip areas, whereas ailments like cataract make iris scanning inaccurate
S Kushala
It’s difficult to take their biometrics as age wears out finger tip areas, whereas ailments like cataract make iris scanning inaccurate
S Kushala
kushala.satyanarayana@timesgroup.com
The fingerprints and retina scan of Shivakumar Swamiji of Siddaganga Mutt
could not be done as he is 100-plus
For the UID’s Aadhaar enrolment process that has started off on a big scale, the mandatory bio-metrics (10 fingers) and iris (retina) scanning is posing a challenge for senior citizens.
Normally, seniors with prolonged diabetes suffer from eye-related ailments — cataract, retina damage or partial blindness. With old age comes wear and tear of the skin around the fingertips. The first such learning experience for UID enrolment officials was Shivakumar Swamiji of Tumkur’s Siddaganga Mutt whose retina scan or fingerprints could not be captured due to his 100-plus age.
Using its discretionary powers, the e-governance department, which is the nodal agency for implementing Aadhaar in Karnataka, will selectively exempt such elders from the mandatory fields without denying them the UID card. Among other details, the enrolment process involves recording all 10 fingers and a retina scan.
Due to the age factor, the finger tip area can get worn out and the biometric scanning may not be accurate in the initial attempts.
“Normally four attempts are done for people whose fingertips are worn out. We decide to take the best of the four prints. But if all the recordings are hazy, then the supervisor uses his discretion to give an exemption. In Shivakumar Swamiji’s case, we could neither take the fingerprint recording nor the retina scan due to his body structure and age. So he was photographed in one particular posture,’’ D S Ravindran, chief executive officer, Centre for e-Governance, said.
The 104-year-old swamiji completed all the four attempts for bio metrics, but was unsuccessful.
“It is only in rare cases that both iris and bio metrics will fail. Otherwise, it’s usually the finger printing that fails. In such cases, we link the iris and complete the enrolment process,’’ Ravindran added.
People with disabilities — with fewer fingers or damaged/severed fingers — will be considered for Aadhaar as their bio metrics can still be completed. For retina scanning, unless there is damage to the eye balls, if the eye lids are closed or blind, the process can be attempted.
Which means, blind or partially blind are also included in the enrolment process. In such cases, finger printing will be used as a link.
“People wearing coloured lenses were asked to remove them for retina scanning. Those with cataract or partial blindness also got through. But if the eye balls are damaged, then it’s a difficult case,’’ said a coordinator at one of the enrolment centres.