Y.S. RANA , Chandigarh ; The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Chandigarh has added another feather in its cap when the authority has enrolled all residents of Home for Mentally Challenged. As a part of its social inclusion drive, its Regional Office, Chandigarh on Wednesday organized a special Aadhaar enrolment camp at AASHREYA – Home for mentally challenged. All residents at Aashreya have been enrolled for Aadhaar in this special camp. Aashreya Home is working under the aegis of Regional Institute of Mentally Handicapped (RIMH).
AASHREYA houses 31 orphans/destitute/abandoned mentally challenged residents aging from 9 years onwards. Since these residents are persons with special needs, it is difficult for them to access the regular Aadhaar enrolment Centres, hence, this special enrolment camp was organized in the campus of Aashreya. Moreover these orphan/destitute/abandoned mentally challenged residents are having no permanent address or identity proof, Aadhaar will enable them to get their identity and address proof. Aadhaar in future will also help them in opening their bank accounts, obtaining benefits like scholarships, social pensions etc. said UDAI official.
The official further stated that more than 100 Aadhaar enrolment camps have been organized in the past one year for marginalized residents by Regional Office Chandigarh, as a part of Social Inclusion program of UIDAI. These include enrolment camps in orphanages, Old Age Homes, Leprosy Areas, Blind Homes, Child Care Institutions etc.
The Chandigarh Region of UIDAI comprising Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab has issued more than 55.5 million Aadhaar number to the residents against the total population of 60.9 million. In Chandigarh, the Aadhaar generation has already crossed 95 per cent..
The spokesperson said that to reach out to the left out population especially children in age group of 0-5 years, it was pursuing aggressive strategy in coordination with State Registrars, Health Departments, Women and Child Development Departments and District Administration. It has identified left out children Aanganwadi-wise and route plans have been prepared for covering these in a targeted period.
Notably, the region remained at top in the country for the third consecutive year in DBT payments to beneficiaries under identified schemes using APB (Aadhaar Payment Bridge).
Chandigarh is one of the States/UTs which have declared Aadhaar as a valid ‘Proof of Address’ and ‘Proof of Identity’