Abhilash Botekar, TNN | Nov 15, 2014, 04.49AM IST
NASHIK: The district administration has procured 15 machines to generate Aadhaar smart cards in less than two minutes as soon as an e-Aadhaar number is generated.
Confirming this, deputy collector of the general administration department (GAD) Nilesh Jadhav said the smart card of the unique identity number - Aadhaar - would be generated at 15 locations across the district, including six in the city.
The polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cards, akin to PAN cards or driving licences, would be generated five minutes after the verification is done or whenever the unique number is generated online. When an individual comes to the e-seva kendra, all that he has to do is present the credentials of his Aadhaar number to the common service centre (CSC) or the kendra, after which the online verification process via retina scanning and thumb impression would be carried out. "If the information stored in the coded form with the unique identity number matches that of the person, then the card is automatically generated," Maha e-seva kendra operator Bapu More said.
The Know Your Client (KYC) process is completed automatically online and so the card generated is authentic and cannot be challenged unless the basic information fed into the system was incorrect.
According to an official at the collectorate, the process costs Rs 30 per person and the rates have been fixed by the government. "Nobody can charge more than the stipulated amount. As of now, only six locations are available in the city and nine others across the district—almost all of them at taluka headquarters," the officer added.
The government may increase the number of machines, but as of now they would be put on trial basis to see the response, he said.
Seventy-nine per cent of citizens in the district have got their Aadhaar numbers. The administration has appealed to people to ensure that they get their numbers at the earliest. "Ever since the Supreme Court disconnected the Aadhaar number from the subsidy link for liquefied petroleum gas, the number of people getting Aadhaar numbers has declined. Besides, when the system was launched, elections to the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) were scheduled and the aspirants wanted to show how they were working for the citizens. So they would clamour to get a centre for Aadhaar processing. Now there is no demand at all," the official said.
However, the administration has identified 45 locations in the district where Aadhar numbers would be processed. "Individuals who are yet to get the Aadhaar number can approach the permanent centres, file their applications and complete the process. Eight of the locations are in the city area, but there is no location on Nashik Road. However, few more locations would soon be identified, including some on Nashik Road," the official said.