Jharkhand Health Department Launches Initiative for Aadhaar Registration of Young Children in Government Hospitals
In a significant move aimed at enhancing accessibility to government services, the health department of Jharkhand has announced a pioneering initiative to facilitate Aadhaar registration for children up to five years of age. This program will be implemented across all government-run medical institutions throughout the state, ensuring that parents and guardians can complete the process conveniently during hospital visits.
Comprehensive Network of Aadhaar Enrollment Centers
The health department plans to establish dedicated Aadhaar enrolment centres in a wide range of government medical facilities. This includes all government medical college hospitals, district hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals, Community Health Centres (CHCs), and Primary Health Centres (PHCs). The primary objective is to simplify the Bal Aadhaar registration process specifically for children in the vulnerable age group of 0–5 years.
Each hospital or health centre will allocate a dedicated space of approximately 200–250 square feet for this facility. These rooms will be fully equipped with essential infrastructure to ensure smooth operations, including reliable electricity supply, appropriate furniture, and stable internet connectivity.
Operational Framework and Implementation
Under this maiden initiative by the health department, the Aadhaar registration centres will be operated by CSC e-Governance Services India Limited, which has been selected as the authorised agency for this project. The enrollment process will be conducted through a streamlined single-window system.
Trained operators will carry out the enrolment using tablets and biometric devices specifically configured for this purpose. After completion of registration, parents or guardians will receive an enrolment slip containing all relevant deposit and acknowledgement details, providing them with proper documentation of the process.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department, Ajoy Kumar Singh, emphasized the convenience this initiative will bring to families. "The facility-based approach will help parents complete the Aadhaar process conveniently during hospital visits, eliminating the need for separate trips to enrollment centers," he stated.
Simplified Process for Young Children
According to experts familiar with the Aadhaar system, Bal Aadhaar enrolment for children up to five years follows a simplified procedure. The registration is carried out based on the child's birth certificate along with the Aadhaar number of parents or guardians.
For this age group, the process does not require collection of biometric data such as fingerprints or iris scans. Instead, only a photograph of the child and essential demographic details are recorded, making the procedure quicker and more child-friendly.
Addressing Low Enrollment Rates
An official from the health department highlighted the challenges many families have faced in the past. "The absence of Aadhaar has created difficulties for many parents in obtaining birth certificates and availing government services for their children," the official explained.
Current statistics reveal concerningly low Aadhaar enrollment among young children in Jharkhand. According to health department data, only about 30 percent of children in the 0–5 age group currently have Aadhaar coverage. Of an estimated 38 lakh children in this category across the state, only around 11.5 lakh possess Aadhaar cards.
Officials stated that the new system aims to bridge this significant gap and ensure that eligible children can access benefits under various central and state government welfare schemes that require Aadhaar identification.
Expected Impact and Benefits
The establishment of Aadhaar registration centers within government medical institutions represents a strategic approach to improving service delivery. This initiative is expected to:
- Increase Aadhaar enrollment rates among children under five years
- Simplify access to government welfare schemes and services
- Reduce administrative hurdles for parents obtaining birth certificates
- Create a more integrated approach to child healthcare and documentation
- Ensure better tracking and implementation of child-focused government programs
By bringing Aadhaar registration services directly to healthcare facilities where parents already visit with their children, the Jharkhand health department aims to create a more efficient and accessible system for young families across the state.
