Punjab pushes for complete Aadhaar enrollment of children
Punjab Chief Secretary directs 100?dhaar enrollment for all children
Punjab's Chief Secretary, KAP Sinha, has directed all government departments, including banks and the post office, to work together and ensure that every child in the state, between the ages of 0 and 5, gets enrolled for Aadhaar. This move aims to make sure that children are included in the Aadhaar system to access services smoothly.
The announcement was made during a workshop led by Sinha, which was attended by department heads and directors from various sectors. The main goal of the session was to discuss ways to achieve 100% Aadhaar enrolment for children in this age group. Sinha stressed the importance of updating the biometric data of children in Aadhaar for hassle-free access to government services.
Collaboration between departments
To achieve better Aadhaar coverage, Bhawna Garg, the Deputy Director-General of UIDAI’s Chandigarh regional office, suggested setting up Aadhaar kits at immunisation centres. This would make it easier to enrol children at the time of their vaccinations. She also recommended that the Health Department and the Department of Women and Child Development (WCD) work together to ensure that every child in the state gets enrolled.
The collaboration between these departments will help make the Aadhaar enrolment process more accessible to families, especially those in rural or remote areas. By using existing healthcare and social infrastructure, the enrolment process can reach more children, improving overall Aadhaar coverage.
Additionally, Bhawna Garg urged the School Education Department to prepare a detailed plan to identify children who need biometric updates in their Aadhaar at the ages of 5 and 15. These updates are necessary for ensuring that children can continue to access important services such as government schemes, scholarships, and educational benefits without any issues.
Updating Aadhaar biometrics at these stages ensures that children's records remain up-to-date, which is essential for the smooth functioning of the various services that rely on Aadhaar data. By coordinating with schools, authorities can better track and manage these updates, making the process easier for both parents and children.
During the workshop, officials also discussed how Aadhaar-based face authentication technology could be used to improve service delivery. Face authentication allows people to access services without the need for physical documents, making it faster and more convenient. This method can be particularly helpful in situations where traditional methods of authentication, such as fingerprints, may not be effective.
Bhawna Garg encouraged various departments to adopt face authentication technology in their schemes to improve efficiency and reduce delays. This would ensure that more people are able to access services quickly, without facing unnecessary obstacles.
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Promoting Aadhaar services in schools
Chief Secretary KAP Sinha further instructed that Aadhaar service camps should be set up in both government and private schools. This would give students an easy way to get their Aadhaar details updated or get enrolled if they haven't done so already. These camps will also make it easier for parents to get their children's Aadhaar details corrected or updated, without having to travel long distances or navigate complicated processes.
To ensure that the process is as smooth as possible, the government plans to make these camps accessible and well-organized. The goal is to make sure that all children can get enrolled for Aadhaar, and any necessary updates can be made in a hassle-free manner.
To make Aadhaar services even more accessible, Sinha also emphasized the promotion of the m-Aadhaar app and the My-Aadhaar Portal. These digital platforms allow citizens to access Aadhaar services online, making it easier for people to update their details, download their Aadhaar cards, and use other services without having to visit government offices.
By promoting these platforms, the government hopes to reduce the burden on physical centres and make Aadhaar services more accessible to people in all parts of the state. This will ensure that citizens can easily access their Aadhaar-related services at their convenience, without facing long waits or unnecessary paperwork.
Aadhaar is a vital tool for accessing a wide range of services, including healthcare, education, and government welfare schemes. For children, having Aadhaar is especially important as it allows them to receive vaccinations, participate in school admissions, and access various benefits designed to support their development.
Ensuring that every child in the state has Aadhaar not only helps them access services but also helps the government maintain accurate records of the population. This data can be used for planning and implementing various schemes, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively to the people who need them the most.
The Chief Secretary's push for 100% Aadhaar enrolment for children is a significant step towards ensuring that every child in Punjab has access to essential services. By collaborating with various departments, setting up Aadhaar kits at immunisation centres, and creating a detailed action plan for biometric updates, the government is working hard to make the enrolment process as efficient and accessible as possible.
Through the use of technology, such as face authentication, and by promoting digital platforms like m-Aadhaar and the My-Aadhaar Portal, the government is making it easier for citizens to manage their Aadhaar details and access services. These efforts are expected to help achieve the goal of 100% Aadhaar enrolment for children in the 0-5 age group, ensuring that they can benefit from the many services available to them.
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