Recent reports that Aadhaar enrolment centres are not allowed to function on holidays have created confusion among the public, while Akshaya entrepreneurs in the State suspect a deliberate attempt to sabotage their activities in favour of private common service centres (CSCs).
Reports that appeared in some local dailies last week are the result of misinterpretation of two orders from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) in May 2021 and August 2022. It had led to fake news getting widely circulated on social media causing confusion and inconvenience to public. The May 2021 order bans Aadhaar enrolment during odd hours (from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.) and states that operators (Akshaya centres in the case of Kerala) who violate the order may be disassociated or blacklisted based on the seriousness of the action. The order was intended to strengthen/clean up the Aadhaar enrolment ecosystem.
Based on the August 2022 order, regional offices of UIDAI can permit operators to work on all seven days of a week except for national/local holidays. UIDAI has also noted that the arrangement could address the the needs of people who require the assistance of their family members for Aadhaar enrolment, such as senior citizens and differently abled. The order says that the services thus provided shall not be considered under odd-hour enrolment. The regional centres are to ensure that at least 10% of operators function round the week.
