Visakhapatnam: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)’s vision of “Mera Aadhaar, Meri Pehchaan” aims to empower the residents of India with a unique digital identity. However, in reality, the Aadhaar number has landed people in an identity crisis.
An Aadhaar card bearing an address from one state is not considered valid in other states while trying to avail of basic services such as mobile SIM cards. Local address proof such as a rental agreement, or an LPG connection is insufficient; an Aadhaar card from the same state is mandatory for the issuance of a new SIM card. Many people who have moved states are unable to get themselves local mobile numbers.
In March this year, the Department of Telecom (DoT) made Aadhaar-based e-KYC mandatory for new mobile phone connections. A circular issued by the Department directed telecom companies to re-verify the existing user base, both prepaid as well as postpaid, based on their unique Aadhaar numbers and biometric details. A person who hails from another state and has an Aadhaar card from that state, but has been living in AP, cannot have his or her mobile number verified.
When this reporter, posing as a prospective customer, visited stores and said that he wished to buy a new SIM, store operators said that they could only issue SIM cards to people having an AP address on their Aadhaar cards. “We have been directed to do so. For further clarification, you can visit our head office,” said a store operator at the Reliance Jio Digital store in MVP colony.
People have been lashing out at telecom operators for refusing them SIM card. They say that the Aadhar card is a unique national identifier that is not confined to a particular state.
Ravi Sharma, a medical representative from Odisha, said, “The advantage of having an Aadhar card is that your identity can be authenticated anywhere in India. But we are losing our identity due to it.”
