Have you got your Aadhaar?

There have been a number of misnomers in spite of authorities taking precautionary measures. “The most common myth among the people is that the Aadhaar card is mandatory for the lower income group and many in the higher income group believe that the card is not a necessity, because they already have driver’s licences or passports,” says Sameer Sheikh, who is handling operations at the Pattigadda camp.
The state government has decided to use the Aadhaar card as the sole identity for all those who wish to avail of government services; and it will be used as an identification certificate for procuring government documents like passport, driving licence, and PAN cards. “The dates have already been issued. As on today, the dates issued is from August 12 onwards. We are doing the apartments first,” says Sameer. Rajiv M., who was waiting at the camp, said, “When the initial news of the Aadhaar card came, we did not take it that seriously. Since it was managed by the government, we thought that it would be chaotic — but this is surprisingly well managed and organised.”
However, the camps are running out of forms and are advising people to download it online. “To facilitate the Aadhaar form distribution, copies of the form should be available when one is visiting the centre. Telugu and English versions should be there,” says Yamini Ratna, who is a resident of Karkhana. To ease the process, apartments and clubs have asked their residents and members to register in bulk. “We had organised a camp for all our 7,000 odd members in partnership with Karvy and the AP Civil supplies department. Nearly 3,500 of our members got themselves enrolled for the card. It is the need of the hour and is the most authentic form of identification,” says Keerthi Narasimhachari, President of the Secunderabad Club.
Most young professionals in the city still haven’t woken up to the utility of the card. “I already have a passport and a PAN card. Moreover, I will get the card when I go home,” says Subhadra M., a software professional. However, officials say that the card can be processed from your place of work, even if you are not originally from the city. One can apply for the card if one has a PAN card, passport, voters ID and permanent address proof from that city.
Apart from the uniqueness that the card offers, it makes a provision for the complete inclusion of all people in the society, including transgenders. “I am glad that the transgender community is finally being recognised, after the decision by the government to include us in the census as transgenders and not as ‘others’,” says Shalini (name changed).

So, if you still haven’t got the Aadhaar card, it is time you get one.