ID Checkmate: Assam Puts Aadhaar in the Hands of DCs Only

Going an extra mile to stem illegal migration, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday announced that Aadhaar cards for adults will now be issued only by District Commissioners (DCs). The policy, which was floated in a recent cabinet meeting, will prevent illegal migrants, particularly from Bangladesh, from obtaining India's special ID document.

 

Key Points:

 

DCs Take Charge: Aadhaar enrollment to adults will now no longer be the prerogative of general enrollment centers. DCs would be solely responsible for approving new applications, adding an extra layer of scrutiny.

Prioritizing Illegal Entry: CM Sarma said that the majority of illegal immigrants crossing into Assam are adults. By centralizing Aadhaar approvals, the state seeks to prevent illegitimate access to government schemes and voter rolls.

Pushback in Progress: The report is issued after the deportation of 20 Bangladesh nationals last night. Sarma further added that Assam is pushing back 15–30 illegal individuals daily.

Verification of Birth Certificates: The state will also tackle late birth registrations, which will have to be scrutinized at the DC level now. All this is done in an effort to stop backdated records being used in claims for citizenship.

Population Protection: The CM referenced cases where Aadhaar distribution surpassed estimated population numbers in Dhubri and Barpeta districts, both along the Bangladesh border, as the rationale for the crackdown.

 

The scheme is to be finalized and tabled in the next cabinet meeting, representing a significant shift of Assam's approach to identity verification and demographic security.

 

Sources: Economic Times, Scroll.in, NE Now