There is welcome news for farmers and rural residents of Uttar Pradesh. People will no longer need to visit block offices or travel to cities to get an Aadhaar card made or updated. Taking an important step towards building an Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) rural India, the Yogi government has launched an initiative to provide Aadhaar-related services at the gram panchayat level. Under this plan, Aadhaar Service Centres will be set up in 1,000 gram panchayats across the state as part of a pilot project.
The main objective of this initiative is to ensure that farmers and rural citizens can access all essential Aadhaar services within their own villages. These centres will provide facilities for new Aadhaar enrolment, name and address correction, mobile number updates, date of birth correction, and Aadhaar authentication. This will help save both time and money for people, while also making it easier to avail benefits under various government schemes.
According to Panchayati Raj Director Amit Kumar Singh, the gram secretariats of selected gram panchayats will be developed as Aadhaar Service Centres. Necessary technical equipment will be installed to ensure uninterrupted services. These centres will be operated by gram panchayat assistants, creating employment opportunities and responsibilities for local youth, while ensuring efficient service delivery at the grassroots level.
To ensure smooth and transparent implementation, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has issued Registrar IDs and Enrolment Agency (EA) IDs to the Panchayati Raj Department. This will ensure that Aadhaar services are delivered in a fully authorised and secure manner. Officials believe this system will significantly reduce the chances of irregularities and fraud, while providing reliable and trustworthy services to rural citizens.
Today, Aadhaar is linked to almost all major government schemes, including the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, crop insurance schemes, fertiliser and seed subsidies, and other welfare programmes. With Aadhaar services available in villages, farmers will be able to access scheme benefits on time and without hassle. They will no longer need to stand in long queues or spend extra money travelling to towns for Aadhaar updates.
Aadhaar-Related Problems to Be Resolved: So far, limited Aadhaar centres in rural areas have caused delays and inconvenience in enrolment and updates. Technical issues often left work incomplete. With services now available at the gram panchayat level, most of these problems are expected to be resolved, while strengthening the digital connect between rural citizens and government services.
Pilot Project with Scope for Expansion: Currently, this initiative is being implemented as a pilot project in 1,000 gram panchayats. Officials have stated that if the project proves successful, it will be expanded in phases to all gram panchayats across the state, further strengthening rural digital infrastructure and public service delivery.
FAQs
Q1: What Aadhaar services are available at the gram panchayat level?
A1: Services include new Aadhaar enrolment, name and address corrections, mobile number updates, date of birth correction, and Aadhaar authentication.
Q2: How will this initiative benefit farmers?
A2: It ensures timely Aadhaar updates needed for accessing government schemes like PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi and crop insurance without travelling far.
Q3: Who will operate the Aadhaar Service Centres?
A3: Gram panchayat assistants will manage these centres, creating local employment and ensuring efficient service delivery.
Q4: How does this initiative prevent Aadhaar-related fraud?
A4: UIDAI has provided official Registrar and Enrolment Agency IDs to ensure services are authorised and secure, reducing chances of irregularities.
Q5: Will this project expand beyond the 1,000 gram panchayats?
A5: Yes, if successful, it will be expanded to cover all gram panchayats in Uttar Pradesh in phases.
