Assam to stop issuing Aadhaar cards to adults
What's the story
The Assam government has decided to temporarily stop issuing Aadhaar cards to persons above 18 years of age, barring those from Scheduled Tribes (ST), Scheduled Castes (SC), and tea garden workers. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the move is aimed at preventing illegal immigrants from obtaining Aadhaar cards in the state. "If any person from other castes is yet to get an Aadhaar card, they can apply for it within the month of September," said Sarma.
Application window
Limited application window for other communities
After this period, only Deputy Commissioners will issue Aadhaar cards in "rarest of rare cases," after consulting district police and Foreigners's Tribunals. Sarma said the decision comes after Assam achieved 103% Aadhaar saturation, but only 96% in SC, ST, and tea garden communities. He linked the move to concerns over illegal immigration from Bangladesh. "We want to take protection so that no one (illegal foreigner) can obtain Aadhaar card from Assam by entering into the state," he said.
Saturation and security
Concerns over illegal immigration from Bangladesh
Sarma said the decision comes after Assam achieved 103% Aadhaar saturation, but only 96% in SC, ST, and tea garden communities. He stated that the new rule will take effect on October 1, and that members of the SC, ST, and tea garden communities will have an additional year to apply for and get Aadhaar cards. Once this window closes, only persons above the age of 18 will be issued Aadhaar cards in the "rarest of rare cases."
Security measures
New policy to issue Aadhaar cards
Sarma had earlier hinted at a new policy where deputy commissioners would issue Aadhaar cards to adults in the state. This was aimed at preventing "infiltrators" from availing the document, he said last month. Currently, applications are made at Aadhaar centers with verification done by district-level officials like ADCs or Circle Officers.