Suman Chakraborti, TNN | Jan 5, 2015, 12.05AM IST
KOLKATA: The confusion over Aadhaar card has started afresh ever since it was declared that the subsidy on cooking gas would be linked directly to bank accounts. Many are yet to get the card and many are confused about where to go to register with the National Population Register (NPR) to get their Aadhaar card.
The mad rush is back at the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) borough offices to enroll for the cards. But those outside KMC area, particularly in places like Salt Lake and its surroundings, don't even know who to approach. There are many cases where applicants have not received their Aadhaar cards even several months after getting enrolled in the local registration camps.
Residents of Salt Lake complain that no awareness campaign is being conducted in Salt Lake. "We are totally in the dark on where to go to get enrolled," complained Koyel C Gupta, a resident of BD Block in Salt Lake.
Many are upset over the "harassment" over getting an Aadhar card. "I had received an Aadhaar card a long time back after a camp was organized in our office. But later, when the local district officials came to our locality to hold a camp, I was told that the card was not a valid one and that I'd have to enroll myself again," grumbled an MNC executive living in Salt Lake's AE Block.
"We had enrolled about a year and a half ago and now, when we enquired when we would get the cards, we are being told that we may have to enroll afresh. This is total harassment," fumed A Bose, an IT executive living near Karunamoyee.
The Bidhannagar sub-divisional administration said the Bidhannagar Municipality would be able to say where enrolment was going on for Aadhaar card. Officials of the municipality said enrollment was being done at the census office in IB Block near Salt Lake stadium.
"The municipality has nothing to do as Aadhaar is a central government project. They have opened an office for the enrolment process. However, our civic officials also assist them in the work and within a few days the process of informing residents will begin. Our civic offices will also inform people," said Bidhannagar Municipality chairperson Krishna Chakraborty.
According to officials, applicants who are yet to get their cards should check the status of their enrollment process on the UIDAI/Aadhaar website. Officials at the state secretariat said the government has set a deadline of March 31, 2015, to complete the Aadhaar card enrollment process.