Assam CM announces concerted efforts to resolve Aadhaar-related issues for 27 lakh residents, aiming to alleviate hurdles and ensure accessibility.
In Guwahati, Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addressed concerns regarding the inability of approximately 27 lakh residents to obtain Aadhaar cards due to biometric lock during the National Register of Citizens (NRC) update.
Responding to Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha in the State Assembly, the Chief Minister expressed hopes for a resolution through consultations with the Centre.
However, he acknowledged the possibility of approaching the Supreme Court for a solution, emphasizing compliance with its directives. Mr. Sarma highlighted the pending notification of the NRC by the Registrar General of India, underlining the complexities of the situation.
The Supreme Court, overseeing the NRC updating process, has observed a state of limbo since the publication of its complete draft in August 2019. In compliance with the Court’s directives, biometrics were collected from 27 lakh individuals out of 3.3 crore NRC applicants. While 19.06 lakh were excluded from the draft,
the biometrics of the remaining 7.94 lakh individuals were frozen despite their inclusion in the citizenship list. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma noted the Centre’s contemplation of NRC notification and data security measures.
Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha highlighted the plight of affected individuals, unable to access essential services due to Aadhaar unavailability.
In 2019, the Supreme Court announced that individuals included in the NRC post-update would receive Aadhaar cards. Those on the rejection list would need to reapply for NRC inclusion to become eligible for Aadhaar cards upon inclusion
