Aadhaar services go kaput at govt offices in Mandya

With only a few days left for the online registration of names under the Right To Education (RTE) Act, non-availability of Aadhaar services at government offices has left the parents worried.

The state government has linked Aadhaar with RTE benefit to eliminate duplication and has made it mandatory for admission under RTE Act quota.

As Aadhaar services are not available at post offices, banks, and Nada Kutcheris, parents are queuing up before private centres to get corrections and changes done in their Aadhaar cards, to admit their wards under RTE Act, within the deadline.

With the authorities making it mandatory to include the mobile phone number and pin code number in the Aadhaar card of the students, parents seeking seats under RTE Act have to get the necessary changes done. The cards issued earlier has no mobile phone or pin code. Besides, the address of both the student and the parent should be the same on the card. Many Aadhaar card holders have to get the changes done. As the government offices are not able to cater to their needs, the parents are under fear of losing the seats.

According to the e-Administration department, Aadhaar services are available at 45 Atalji Seva Kendras across the district. However, the centres are facing technical problems and have failed to serve the people.

Only 3 pvt centres

With the government offices failing to serve the purpose, the parents submitting applications under RTE Act have no other option, but to get it done at the available three private centres in the city. There are long queues in front of the centres at Subhash Nagar, Karnataka Bar Circle and Gandhi Bhavan Road. The parents are issued tokens from 8 am and they have to wait for their turn to get the corrections done later. Though the centres can attend to only 100 persons a day, there are longer queues in front of the centres.

Nagaraj of Mangala village said, "A correction has to be made in the name of the child's father. As we could not get it done at the government office, we have come to the private centre in Mandya at 8 am, but we have been told to wait till 4 pm."

Banks, post offices

Aadhaar services are extended at Syndicate Bank, Bank of India, Canara Bank and Federal Bank. But the services are irregular and the staff always complain of technical problems, staff shortage, and others. Hence, people opt for the private centres.

Sharadamma of the city complained that even though the post offices have boards publicising the Aadhaar services, people are turned off citing that the person concerned is on leave.

District Coordinator for e-Administration Venugopal said, "Aadhaar services are available at 45 Atalji Seva Centres. There might be some technical issues, but, the services have not been stopped. The private centres are being closed. Hence, they should come to the Nada Kutcheris only," he said.