BANGALORE, August 11, 2014
Updated: August 11, 2014 08:21 IST
K. C. DEEPIKA
DEEPA KURUP
Family receives Aadhaar cards that do not belong to them
The Latwal family was baffled when they received three envelopes in January, all from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). The mailing address was theirs — the Army quarters on Promenade Main Road — but the Aadhaar cards in the envelopes belonged to three members of a different family.
Perplexed, they went in search of people bearing the names on the envelope in the area, but it turned futile. Now, they do not know what to do with the mysterious cards.
Latha Latwal, a schoolteacher, said, “We did not want to give it back to the postman as we were not sure where the cards will land up. We have been living in the same house since 2010 and yet someone has managed to get Aadhaar cards issued with our mailing address. Aadhaar cards qualify to get you any important identity card in India. Such mistakes could lead to misuse,” she added.
Incidentally, the Reserve Bank of India recently made the Aadhaar card a valid document for opening bank accounts, along with voter identity card, PAN card, driving licence, passport and MNREGA job card.
Now, UIDAI officials have suggested that the Latwal family return the envelopes to the Aadhaar enrolment centre for further investigation.
UIDAI officials, who learnt about this case, examined their records and found out that the Aadhaar cards were issued on the basis of the address proof provided, which in this case was the ration card.
“The UIDAI process accepts 18 PoI (Proof of Identity) and 33 PoA (Proof of Address) documents. These documents produced by the resident at the time of enrolment are subject to verification. Verifiers are present in every enrolment centre,” a UIDAI official said in an email response.
The official added that the resident brings his/her original and photocopied documents along with the filled-up enrolment form. The photocopies of documents and the details filled in the enrolment form will be verified against the original documents. “Only after the verifier has satisfied himself with all the required procedures is the resident allowed to enrol,” the official explained.
However, these checks and balances have not worked in this specific case where the Latwal family has ended up receiving Aadhaar cards that did not belong to them.
Keywords: K. C. Deepika, Deepa Kurup