Ashish Roy, TNN | Dec 27, 2011, 06.39AM IST
NAGPUR: In a major setback to unique identification document (UID) project, the state government has decided that only government employees can verify the documents submitted by an applicant for a UID card.
The rate of issuance of cards is already slow. This decision will further slow it down. The state took she decision following a directive from centre. The state has however, asked district administrations to rope in retired government staffers in case the existing staff is not able to meet the demand.
A revenue official told TOI that before March 2011, verification work was done by government staff. However, as workload was too high government decided to empower private centre owners. "Government staff was required to remain present at these centres for verification work. This was hampering our regular work. Hence this decision was taken."
However, the central government observed that the centre owners and their staff were not closely scrutinizing the documents and were more interested in volumes to increase their business. As a result many persons, having submitted incorrect information, got UID cards. This led to the Centre cancelling the March decision.
All district collectors and municipal commissioners have been asked to draw up a list of employees, who can be deployed for the work. In case the officer feels that s/he cannot spare adequate staffers, then s/he should request retired government servants to do the work and pay them an honorarium.
The official said, the decision has brought things back to square one. "A large number of employees will be sent on election duty for municipal corporation and zilla parishad. We will not be able to spare staff for UID work and the issuance of cards will get stuck up. Even otherwise, the government is using our employees for some or other drive frequently."
UID cards need to have accurate information about the bearer as in coming years it will become the sole document for all government work. Citizens, will however, be required to furnish address proof in case they shift to other location.
The rate of issuance of cards is already slow. This decision will further slow it down. The state took she decision following a directive from centre. The state has however, asked district administrations to rope in retired government staffers in case the existing staff is not able to meet the demand.
A revenue official told TOI that before March 2011, verification work was done by government staff. However, as workload was too high government decided to empower private centre owners. "Government staff was required to remain present at these centres for verification work. This was hampering our regular work. Hence this decision was taken."
However, the central government observed that the centre owners and their staff were not closely scrutinizing the documents and were more interested in volumes to increase their business. As a result many persons, having submitted incorrect information, got UID cards. This led to the Centre cancelling the March decision.
All district collectors and municipal commissioners have been asked to draw up a list of employees, who can be deployed for the work. In case the officer feels that s/he cannot spare adequate staffers, then s/he should request retired government servants to do the work and pay them an honorarium.
The official said, the decision has brought things back to square one. "A large number of employees will be sent on election duty for municipal corporation and zilla parishad. We will not be able to spare staff for UID work and the issuance of cards will get stuck up. Even otherwise, the government is using our employees for some or other drive frequently."
UID cards need to have accurate information about the bearer as in coming years it will become the sole document for all government work. Citizens, will however, be required to furnish address proof in case they shift to other location.
