GUWAHATI, July 12 - The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has received reports that some unscrupulous �firms/operators� are enrolling residents for Aadhaar in Barpeta district of the State in a clandestine manner and taking service charges from them.
�UIDAI has not authorised these agencies for undertaking any enrolment activities for Aadhaar. Aadhaar enrolment work in Assam is allocated to the Registrar General of India (RGI), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India,� said a statement issued by the Deputy Director General, UIDAI, Guwahati.
It added, �It has also been learnt that some private agencies are trying to lure local individuals/vendors to invest money in order to get the sub-contract for biometric/Aadhaar enrolment. In this connection, we would like to clarify that UIDAI merely empanels the enrolment agencies as per defined financial and technical criteria and the Registrar selects the enrolment agency through tendering process from the list of empanelled agencies as stated above. No sub-contract of enrolment work is permitted.�
It said that the RGI�s enrolment process is based on enumeration by the Census Department and part of compilation of the National Population Register (NPR). The Directorate of Census Operations, Assam is implementing NPR works and shall collect the biometrics of the residents through the authorised sub-registrar/enrolment agencies. No agency can start biometric enrolment without necessary approval from the Directorate of Census, Assam.�
It said that the process of enrolment for NPR also results in the generation of an Aadhaar number. �Hence, they need not enrol for Aadhaar again. Biometric enrolment or Aadhaar enrolment is free of cost,� the UIDAI said.
It said that after enrolment, it is mandatory for the enrolment agencies to upload resident details in the UIDAI�s server for generation of Aadhaar number.
�It may be possible that unscrupulous firms, indulging in fraudulent practices, may not upload the same in UIDAI�s server and in that case, Aadhaar numbers will not be generated. The mere intention of such unauthorised agencies may be to earn money on the pretext of Aadhaar enrolment.
�The residents are advised not to get influenced by such unscrupulous people/entities, who are trying to perpetrate a fraud by vitiating the system of enrolment. All the residents are requested to report such activities immediately to the Directorate of Census Operations, Assam or UIDAI, Regional Office, Guwahati,� said the statement.
Under NPR process, prior to the commencement of biometric enrolment, the designated enumerators of district administration undertake house-to-house data collection. In the second stage, biometrics are collected in camps. The residents are notified by the enumerators for such camps in their locality.
�The public are, therefore, advised not to give their biometrics in unauthorised enrolment centres. Nor should they pay heed to the offer of dealership/agency for preparation of Aadhaar card from the unscrupulous party. They may check credentials of the operators/agencies by asking for a copy of valid agreement/approval with the Registrar or letter from district administration for undertaking enrolment works in the locations concerned. The residents may also contact the regional office of UIDAI or the Directorate of Census Operation, Assam,� it said.
