New SOP eases Aadhaar enrolment for destitute PwDs | Lucknow News
Lucknow: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, through its department of empowerment of persons with disabilities (DEPwD), on Friday issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) to streamline Aadhaar enrollment for destitute persons with disabilities aged 18 and above.This initiative, approved by UIDAI, aims to ensure inclusion and access to essential services for one of the most vulnerable sections of society. Under the Aadhaar Act, 2016, every resident is entitled to an Aadhaar number. UIDAI is mandated to take special measures for persons with disabilities. The new SOP outlines a simplified process for those residing in registered shelter homes under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. The process begins with a certificate jointly signed by the head of the shelter home and the district social welfare officer (DSWO) or an authorised officer. This certificate serves as both proof of identity (PoI) and proof of address (PoA) and must include a recent colour photograph of the individual and the shelter home’s official address. The shelter home head must accompany the individual to an Aadhaar Sewa Kendra, regional or state office, or an enrollment camp. The person then undergoes biometric and demographic data collection. If the individual’s Aadhaar and biometrics are available, the system will reject re-enrollment and provide the existing details. The person can then retrieve their Aadhaar through biometric authentication and be reunited with family or guardians. If no prior Aadhaar is detected, UIDAI will generate a new one and send it to the provided address.
