TIRUNELVELI: For over four years, C Manikandan (31), who was born without most six fingers, has been deprived of government welfare benefits, including PDS and MGNREGS work, as his Aadhaar has been suspended due to lack of biometric information such as finger print and iris scan. After he petitioned the collector Dr R Sukumar on Monday, his name has been included in the PDS. But Manikandan has a long way to go to get included in the system.
Speaking to reporters at the collectorate, Manikandan, a resident of Azhakiyapandiapuram near Manur, said his efforts over the last four years to restore Aadhaar failed. Further, staff of e-Seva centres told him that he can enrol only at the UIDAI's regional centre in Bengaluru.
"I was born without four fingers on my left hand and two on my right. The remaining fingers are also deformed. Also, I do not have toes on either foot. My wife is also a disabled person. We have two children. Around four years ago, my Aadhaar was suspended. When I tried to renew it, e-Seva staff told me that my fingerprints were not accepted by the system. The staff said my iris could not be scanned as well and advised me to go to the Bengaluru regional office. We cannot afford to travel to the neighbouring state," he said.
Manikandan added that his name was removed from the PDS beneficiaries list due to Aadhaar suspension. Manikandan said when he first applied for Aadhaar card, the system had accepted the fingerprint of one of his fingers.
When contacted, collector Sukumar said he had resolved the ration card issue and ensured that Manikandan received an increased quantity of ration items. "We are also helping him resolve the Aadhaar issue and have allotted Rs 10,000 each to him and his wife from my discretionary fund," he added.
Subsequent to re-inclusion of name in PDS, Manikandan received 20 kg rice instead of 15 kg, along with his entitled quantity of sugar on Monday afternoon. He has requested the district administration to consider giving his wife a job at an anganwadi.