TNN Nov 1, 2011, 03.05AM IST
BANGALORE: A well-oiled network of touts and government officials is cashing in on the people's yearning to have an Aadhaar number, which is slated to become mandatory to avail a slew of government services.
Serpentine queues are seen in front of Jayanagar General Hospital, Tilaknagar, over the past week as people are flocking to the doctors there to obtain photo identity certificates. Every individual keen on obtaining the certificate is coughing up Rs 100 for it. A photo identity certificate issued by a Group A gazetted officer is among the identity documents prescribed for obtaining Unique Identification numbers.
Serpentine queues are seen in front of Jayanagar General Hospital, Tilaknagar, over the past week as people are flocking to the doctors there to obtain photo identity certificates. Every individual keen on obtaining the certificate is coughing up Rs 100 for it. A photo identity certificate issued by a Group A gazetted officer is among the identity documents prescribed for obtaining Unique Identification numbers.
At this hospital, the Aadhaar business is thriving. A doctor identified as Sridhar ST, senior specialist in the rank of district surgeon, is allegedly signing away identity certificates without even checking to whom and what he is certifying. An enterprising Jayanagar resident, Mir Saifullah, decided to carry out a sting operation and expose how identities were at stake in the photo ID certificate racket.
"I pasted only my photo on the identification certificate form and left the rest blank. Yet, the doctor affixed his seal and signed on the photo, certifying that I am resident of the unstated address for five years and he knew me. He did not check why I had to pay Rs 100 to an agent who promised the certificate would get me an Aadhaar card," said Mir Saifullah.
"I pasted only my photo on the identification certificate form and left the rest blank. Yet, the doctor affixed his seal and signed on the photo, certifying that I am resident of the unstated address for five years and he knew me. He did not check why I had to pay Rs 100 to an agent who promised the certificate would get me an Aadhaar card," said Mir Saifullah.