Though it has been more than a year since the UID project was launched in the state it is yet to kickstart in some panchayats in Ernakulam district. UID project is yet to be implemented in Kadamakkudy, Keezhmadu and Elamkunnapuzha panchayats. It is not full-fledged in a few others. In panchayats where NPR has been done, UID project is not necessary.
The Kerala State IT Mission is the nodal agency in the state for implementing the scheme. Many other e-governance programmes are in the pipeline in which the UID number will be used to open a bank account and secure a financial identity.
In future, welfare pensions will be disbursed thorough Aadhaar-enabled bank account to prevent manipulation and ensure that the authentic beneficiary gains from the scheme, the UID project is the need of the hour.’
Akshaya is the enrolment agency in rural pockets and Keltron in the urban areas. besides banks, post office and insurance offices are facilitating the project. As Akshaya implements the project through entrepreneurs, it has to get the equipment to conduct the procedures.
The panchayat presidents have been trying to get the project implemented but it is being put off invariably.
“There are two Akshaya centres of which only one is active. They would fix certain dates but when the day nears it would be invariably postponed. We hope that the project will be implemented soon. Aluva is adjacent and a few got it registered there but the majority of the 29,368 people of the panchayat are yet to register for UID,” said Laiza Sebastian, Keezhmadu panchayat president.
Same is the case in Elamkunnapuzha. None have registered for Aadhaar. Though Akshaya and another agency under the SBT were vying to implement the project, they have decided on Akshaya. The people of the 23 wards have to register for UID,” said panchayat president Beatrice Joseph.
Even in Kadamakkudy, the scheme is yet to be launched. When asked, sources from the UID said the issue would be looked into and project implementation speeded up. Only if the Akshaya entrepreneurs have the required equipment the project can commence.
Around 27 lakh people have regiserted for UID and around 6 lakh have to register. Measures are being taken to speed up the implementation so as to complete the project by March, said UID sources.