Sumita Sarkar, TNN | Jul 21, 2015, 01.15AM IST
NASHIK: A group of parents on Monday staged an agitation at the civic body's office in Old Pandit Colony to protest against the municipal administration's non-co-operation in issuing Aadhaar cards to their children.
Parents said they have been visiting the civic administration's centres for issuing Aadhaar card for the last four days. They complained that the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) was not co-operating with them even as they have been standing in the queue since early morning.
Only 50 tokens are given per day to the parents. Braving the rainfall on Monday morning, they came with their children only to be told by the officials after a while to go back as 50 tokens were already given.
"Aadhaar card is required for everything and the school had asked us to get it for our children. We come here with our children in the rain only to be told that the tokens have already been given. Many parents have taken off from their work. When we asked the employees, they told us that the task was given to a contractor. The least we expect is some co-operation. There should be some system in place. For how long should we keep coming here?" said Sunil Thanekar, an architect, whose son studies in class VI in a city-based school.
Another parent Santosh Sonawane, who has two daughters, said, "I want to admit my daughters in the school. I have coming here since the last 15 days at 4 am to stand in the line. If we ask anything to the NMC employees, they tell us that we are not paying them. We requested them to increase the number of tokens by 10-20. Every person has two-three forms and hence, it takes time. They should have kept this section open on Saturday and Sunday."
Jyotsana Vadnerkar, whose son is in class VII, said the parents bring their children in the rain but have to go back empty-handed. "We have to wake them up at dawn and bring them here. The person issuing the cards counts 50 people and asks the remaining to leave. We asked them to give us tokens for the next day but they refused," she said.
Vandana Joshi, a domestic help, has not been going for work since the last four days. "I have been coming here at 4am since four days. Many parents are not going to work and got agitated onA Monday," said Vandana, whose son is studying in class VIII.
Her son Hrishikesh said, "I am missing school since the past 4-5 days. Today was the last day for submitting the card in the school."
Parents said the schools were cooperating and not creating any problem.
Balu Ghumade, who was issuing Aadhaar cards at the NMC's office in Old Pandit Colony, said, "We give only 50 tokens because it takes an entire day (to issue the cards). We can only issue these many cards till 5.30pm."