Chandigarh Attains Universal Aadhaar Saturation

Chandigarh, 30^th November, 2016: Adding a feather to its cap, Chandigarh has achieved the distinction of being the first UT (without legislation) in the country to attain universal Aadhaar saturation.

As against the estimated population (year 2015) of 11,15,584 as of now 11,15,817 residents of Chandigarh have acquired Aadhaar. The population of Chandigarh as per census 2011 is 10,54,686. With this Chandigarh has become the first UT (without legislation) in the country to achieve 100 % Aadhaar Saturation. Delhi, Telangana, Haryana & Punjab are the other states in the country who have achieved 100 % Aadhaar Saturation.

Sh. V. P. Singh Badnore, the Governor of Punjab and Administrator U.T., Chandigarh has lauded the role and efforts put in by the Administration led by Sh. Parimal Rai, IAS, Adviser to the Administrator, U.T., Chandigarh and team of UIDAI led by Sh. Ram Subhag Singh, IAS, Deputy Director General, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Regional Office (RO), Chandigarh for attaining this commendable feat in such a short span.

Sh. Ram Subhag Singh, DDG, UIDAI RO, Chandigarh credited the UT Administration and Sh. Parimal Rai, IAS, Adviser to the Administrator, other officers and residents of Chandigarh for achieving this milestone.

Under the special joint initiative taken by the Adviser & DDG UIDAI, IT department, Health department & School Education department were registered as State Registrars & Enrolment Agencies by the UIDAI to carry out enrolments in their respective areas of control. Extensive training & certification to their staff members were provided by UIDAI for Aadhaar enrolment work. Department of IT, Chandigarh Administration led the initiative by procuring and setting up of enrolment kits in 8 Sampark Centres. In addition 33 Tablets were procured for enrolment of children in Aanganwadis.

Chandigarh is also the first UT in the country to link birth certificate with Aadhaar. The program was launched on 2^nd August, 2016 by Sh. VP Singh Badnore, Administrator UT Chandigarh. Health Department has procured tablets for successful implementation of Aadhaar Linked Birth Registration program in Chandigarh. Every child born is given an Aadhaar number with birth certificate. The tablets have been deployed in all the government hospitals including PGI and in private hospitals also.  

Separate strategies were devised to cover the residents of different age groups. Enrolment Challenge Scheme was launched by UIDAI for enrolment of adult population. In this scheme the resident could raise request for enrolment by registering online on web portal of UIDAI (wenrol.uidai.gov.in) & residents were facilitated for their enrolment. Special camps were setup in Government and Private Colleges with the help of Department of Higher Education. Similarly, enrolment camps were setup in Panjab University, Technical Institutes, Engineering Colleges such as PEC, UIET etc. For covering population between 5-18 years, special enrolment drive was carried out in all Government and Private Schools in Chandigarh with the help of Education Department. Special enrolment drive in coordination with Health Department, was carried out to cover children below 5 years. Enrolment camps were setup in dispensaries on Immunization Days. Aanganwadi Workers were trained and certified to work as Aadhaar operators for carrying out enrolment of Children in Aanganwadi Centres. Enrolment Agencies working with Non State Registrars were actively deployed by UIDAI at all these camps to ensure targeted achievement of results.

The emphasis will now be on deploying enrolment kits in Schools on permanent basis for biometric updation of Children in Schools. Biometric update for Child is mandatory upon attaining the age of 5 years and then on 15 years.