Only 5 of 14 Aadhaar Enrollment Centers Operational in Palamu, Garhwa, Latehar
In a concerning development for residents of the Palamu commissionerate, which includes the districts of Garhwa, Latehar, and Palamu, only five out of fourteen Aadhaar card enrollment centers run and managed by India Post Payments Bank are currently functional. This significant shortfall has raised questions about access to essential identity services in the region.
Operational Centers and District-Wide Disparities
The operational centers are strategically located but limited in scope. In Latehar district, centers in Chandwa and Mahuadanr are active, while in Palamu district, Japla in Daltonganj and Rehla are functioning. Notably, Garhwa district faces a complete absence of operational centers, leaving residents without local access to Aadhaar enrollment services.
Postal superintendent of the Palamu commissionerate, S K Sangam, confirmed the situation to TOI, stating, "Our five enrollment centers are working while nine are non-operational." This admission highlights a stark gap in service delivery across the three districts.
Challenges in Door-to-Door Enrollment for Children
When questioned about the lack of door-to-door Aadhaar enrollment for children in the critical 0-5 age group, Sangam pointed to several inherent issues. He explained that parents of young children often show minimal interest in the process, complicating outreach efforts. Additionally, out of the 769 postmen in the Palamu commissionerate, only around 200 possess the necessary expertise to conduct Aadhaar enrollments, further limiting capacity.
Administrative Review and Concerns
District Development Commissioner Md Jawed Hussain recently conducted a review of the Aadhaar enrollment centers' functioning. Sources revealed that he expressed serious concern over the non-functioning enrollment center at Pandu Anchal, which has been inactive for the past two weeks. The center's computer operator was blacklisted by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) due to alleged discrepancies in enrollment procedures, underscoring quality control challenges.
In response, Hussain directed block resource center personnel to prioritize Aadhaar enrollment for children in the age groups of 5-7 years and 15-17 years, aiming to address gaps in coverage for school-going and adolescent populations.
Implications for Residents and Future Steps
The limited functionality of Aadhaar centers poses significant hurdles for residents needing to update or obtain identity documents, potentially affecting access to government schemes, banking services, and other benefits linked to Aadhaar. With Garhwa district entirely unserved and only a fraction of centers operational elsewhere, urgent administrative action is required to restore and expand services.
Efforts to train more postmen and engage parents of young children could be key to improving enrollment rates, alongside stricter oversight to prevent operational lapses like those seen at Pandu Anchal.
