UIDAI cancels 3.84 lakh bogus Aadhaar enrolments

The UIDAI has cancelled 3.84 lakh Aadhaar numbers which were reportedly prepared under the biometric clause.

According to biometric clause, the authorised enrolment agencies have been granted the permission to enrol people without taking biometrics like fingerprints and iris scan.

But in any case, the enrolment agency must procure photograph and demographic information of the people. As of now, 4.10 lakh Aadhaar numbers have been generated under the biometric exception clause, out of which the UIDAI has directed to scrap 3.84 lakh Aadhaar numbers.

This issue of deceptive enrolments has come to light after the Central Government has announced to launch the Aadhaar based Direct Cash Transfer scheme in 43 districts from January 1st, 2013.

"Most of the 45,000 undelivered Aadhaar letters in Andhra Pradesh were under this exception clause. It gave rise to a suspicion and then a later examination brought into the knowledge that out of 48.8 lakh Aadhaar produced in the state, 2.3 lakh Aadhaar numbers were found bogus and eventually were cancelled by the authority," said a UIDAI official.

Every agency is paid Rs 50 for every enrolment it generates. Some of the enrolment agencies have generated bogus enrolment to generate more income for themselves.

Other states too were no exception with UIDAI reporting deceptive enrolments in the states of Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh. As per an official from the Delhi Government, "This exception was introduced for highly disabled person and about 13000 deceptive enrolments were found during the scrutiny."

To check this menace, the UIDAI has asked the enrolment agencies to conduct the enrolment process in a regular manner for the rest of the population. Such type of exception will only be allowed after seeking permission from the authorities, directed the UIDAI to the enrolment agencies.