A recent internal communication between UIDAI officials had pegged that around 1 to 1.5% of all enrolments made in the last seven years have “mixed biometrics”
BENGALURU: In February this year, a contract labourer in Raichur got his Aadhaar number after seven years of running from pillar to post. Mixing of his fingerprints with that of his son — for no mistake of his own — had cost him more than Rs 30,000 before everything was set right.
This, according to highly placed sources in Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), was not a one-off incident. A recent internal communication between UIDAI officials had pegged that around 1 to 1.5% of all enrolments made in the last seven years have “mixed biometrics” — around six to nine lakh Aadhaar numbers in Karnataka and around 1.3 to 1.9 crore all over India.
UIDAI has identified the numbers with mixed biometrics and has written letters to the affected to rectify the same. Most of them with the issue are from rural areas, hoping to avail several welfare benefits from the government.
According to sources, biometric data of family members and relatives were mixed up during the initial phases of enrolment when it was taken up in a campaign mode. “In order to meet targets, some enrolling agencies used biometrics of accompanying relatives if they were not able to register the biometric data of the person who was getting enrolled. Ramifications of this are emerging now as some people are facing problems to avail Aadhaar-linked essential services,” an officer said.
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