Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that over for 9.35 Lakh residents, will soon get their Aadhar Card, whose biometrics were locked due to National Registration of Citizens (NRC) issue.
There biometrics were locked during the updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The decision, directed by the Central Government, to restore access to Aadhaar cards, which are important for getting various services and benefits in India.
During Press Conference in Guwahati CM Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that in Assam 9,35,682 residents Aadhar card was blocked even they given their biometric was taken. The individual who provided their biometric for Aadhar Card issuance at centers that were also NRC centers in the period of February and August 2019.
Himanta Biswa Sarma also said, “The affected individuals also include those who were not directly linked to the NRC but had their biometrics collected during that period when Aadhaar registration and NRC enrolment were conducted simultaneously.”
The problem started because of differences between the NRC draft and final lists, which caused the freezing of Aadhaar biometrics.
The Chief Minister said that despite many efforts, the state struggled to connect NRC and Aadhaar clearly, which stopped card issuance. To fix this, the state government set up a cabinet sub-committee that worked with different groups, including the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU).
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said that after research by the sub-committee found no link between Aadhaar cards and NRC, so over 9 lakh people in the state should receive their Aadhaar cards. He stated that “As the people were facing difficulties, we have taken up this issue with the Union government, and after continuous discussion for two years. On July 19, 2024, the Government of India requested for official documentation regarding the problem. By July 29, 2024, Assam submitted a formal proposal to issue Aadhaar cards to over 9 lakh people. the Centre has decided to provide them AADHAR cards. The UIDAI authority was also notified accordingly,” he said now 9,35,642 people will get their Aadhaar cards.
Following consultations with the Solicitor General, on August 27, 2024 the Centre directed Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to unlock the biometrics.
CM also said that in the next 15 days or one month, 9,35,642 people are expected to receive Aadhar Card at the AADHAR centres.
He also thanked the Centre, saying that solving this long-standing issue will allow affected individuals to use their Aadhaar cards to access government services like ration cards, scholarship or many more. Initial estimates indicated that over 27 lakh people were affected, but this number was later revised to 9,35,682.
