Prafulla Marpakwar, TNN | Oct 29, 2011, 01.49AM IST
MUMBAI: IT icon Nandan Nilekani's ambitious unique identification (UID) project has hit a major roadblock in Maharashtra, as most departments have refused to accept the Aadhar card as proof of age and residence.
A senior UID bureaucrat said that the card has no legal validity since the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party government had not issued a notification. "As per norms prescribed by the Centre, the state government has to notify the legal validity of the Aadhar card, and then only will it be accepted as an identity card and proof of residence. It appears that so far the state government has not issued the notification. There appears to be lack of coordination at all levels,'' he said.
The UID project was launched in the tribal Nandurbar district of north Maharashtra on September 30 last year in the presence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and prime minister Manmohan Singh. When Nilekani proposed the card, the main purpose was to obviate the need to produce multiple documents to prove one's identity. As per official records, while three crore persons have registered for the UID project, 1.25 crore cards have been issued across the state.
The card is issued after personal verification of all documents, particularly proof of residence and date of birth, and is a valid document for identity to open a bank account, secure a driving licence or purchase a motor vehicle. "It was mainly for all who don't have an identity card," he said.
Besides most state departments, even regional transport offices were not accepting the card as proof of residence in Mumbai. A week back, when a Borivli resident approached the Andheri transport office, he was told that it was not valid as proof of residence and that he should produce a ration card issued by the food and civil supplies department or passport.
"They told me that not only the Aadhar card, but even the driving licence is not acceptable as proof of residence. Now, I am securing a ration card to establish my proof of residence. I was shocked to know the transport department is not accepting the Aadhar card as proof of residence," he said.
While there was no response from chief secretary Ratnakar Gaikwad on the card's legal validity, transport commissioner V N More said he will conduct an inquiry as to why it was not accepted by the Andheri transport office. "If the officers are at fault, we will take action against the erring staff," More said.
He said following specific instructions from the ministry of surface transport and highways, RTOs across the state have been told to accept the card as proof of residence while issuing driving licences and for registration of vehicles.
A top bureaucrat admitted that it in the absence of a notification, even if the cards are issued, most departments were reluctant to accept them as a legal document. "Apparently, the government plans to issue the notification after all Aadhar cards are issued across the state. We feel that it will be too late, as it will take at least two years to complete the exercise. Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan must step in ask all departments to accept the card as proof of residence," he said.
A senior UID bureaucrat said that the card has no legal validity since the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party government had not issued a notification. "As per norms prescribed by the Centre, the state government has to notify the legal validity of the Aadhar card, and then only will it be accepted as an identity card and proof of residence. It appears that so far the state government has not issued the notification. There appears to be lack of coordination at all levels,'' he said.
The UID project was launched in the tribal Nandurbar district of north Maharashtra on September 30 last year in the presence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and prime minister Manmohan Singh. When Nilekani proposed the card, the main purpose was to obviate the need to produce multiple documents to prove one's identity. As per official records, while three crore persons have registered for the UID project, 1.25 crore cards have been issued across the state.
The card is issued after personal verification of all documents, particularly proof of residence and date of birth, and is a valid document for identity to open a bank account, secure a driving licence or purchase a motor vehicle. "It was mainly for all who don't have an identity card," he said.
Besides most state departments, even regional transport offices were not accepting the card as proof of residence in Mumbai. A week back, when a Borivli resident approached the Andheri transport office, he was told that it was not valid as proof of residence and that he should produce a ration card issued by the food and civil supplies department or passport.
"They told me that not only the Aadhar card, but even the driving licence is not acceptable as proof of residence. Now, I am securing a ration card to establish my proof of residence. I was shocked to know the transport department is not accepting the Aadhar card as proof of residence," he said.
While there was no response from chief secretary Ratnakar Gaikwad on the card's legal validity, transport commissioner V N More said he will conduct an inquiry as to why it was not accepted by the Andheri transport office. "If the officers are at fault, we will take action against the erring staff," More said.
He said following specific instructions from the ministry of surface transport and highways, RTOs across the state have been told to accept the card as proof of residence while issuing driving licences and for registration of vehicles.
A top bureaucrat admitted that it in the absence of a notification, even if the cards are issued, most departments were reluctant to accept them as a legal document. "Apparently, the government plans to issue the notification after all Aadhar cards are issued across the state. We feel that it will be too late, as it will take at least two years to complete the exercise. Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan must step in ask all departments to accept the card as proof of residence," he said.
