Crack down on illegal migrants getting Aadhaar: LG to city government

NEW DELHI: Following complaints that "illegal immigrants" managed to secure Aadhaar cards on the basis of "false documentation or misrepresentation", lieutenant governor VK Saxena has asked the Delhi govt to enforce strict regulations.

In a letter to chief secretary Dharmendra, principal secretary to the LG, Ashish Kundra, said Aadhaar enrolment was an "extremely sensitive exercise" and a monthly audit should be conducted to ensure there were no "loopholes".

He added that illegal migrants obtaining the document had wider national security ramifications.

"It has come to the attention of the LG that in several instances, illegal immigrants have managed to secure an Aadhaar card on the basis of false documentation or misrepresentation," Kundra noted in his letter. tnn

This has a cascading effect as some individuals secure other documents (passport and voter identity cards) which establish nationality and avail of benefits under various govt schemes and impact employment opportunities meant for locals," principal secretary to theLG, Ashish Kundra, noted in his letter.

The LG's principal secretary said there was an urgent need to give a fresh look at the responsibilities assigned to registrars under the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016, in the Delhi govt, with respect to field-level implementation, monitoring, and verification procedures. While the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) issued directions to state govts in 2022 to shift enrolment agencies working under outsourced mode to in-house mode, the letter noted that the LG expressed concern that this system was not put in place till date and operational mechanisms under various registrars of the Delhi govt were not adequately standardised.

"LG has directed that clear instructions be issued to all registrars to strictly comply with the provisions of the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016, and switch to an in-house model of Aadhaar enrolment within two months," it said.

The letter further stated that the divisional commissioner should supervise the monthly audit to make sure there were no loopholes and accountability of the person gathering data before issuing Aadhaar should be fixed.

Referring to UIDAI directions, the letter pointed out that operators should be on the rolls of the registrars or hired from a manpower hiring agency on a salary basis with clearly-defined training parameters. It added that the registrars should sensitise operators and other staff to collect documents for Aadhaar enrolment and update work strictly as per guidelines.

"Strict action should be taken against any callousness by staff to facilitate Aadhaar enrolment or updating details of illegal immigrants," it said.

The LG's principal secretary also asked for a comprehensive list of all enrolment centres set up by the state govt, including municipal bodies, with the current mode of functioning by July 15.