IMPHAL/UKHRUL: Residents of Manipur will now have easier access to Aadhaar-related services with the inauguration of the state’s first Aadhaar Seva Kendra (ASK) at Waheng Leikai, Imphal, on Thursday.
The centre was inaugurated by commissioner-cum-secretary and special secretary (Home) N. Ashok Kumar in the presence of Additional Secretary and Special Secretary (Home) A. Subhash Singh, deputy director General of UIDAI Regional Office, Guwahati, Ngachan Zimik, and director of UIDAI Regional Office, Guwahati, Col. Abhishek Kaushik.
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Describing the inauguration as a long-awaited achievement, N. Ashok Kumar said the State Government had been pursuing the establishment of a dedicated Aadhaar Seva Kendra for the past few years to make Aadhaar services more accessible to the people.
He said Aadhaar has become an indispensable document in everyday life, with its use extending from school admissions and scholarships to accessing various government services. While Manipur has achieved Aadhaar enrolment of around 87 to 88 per cent, he noted that enrolment among children below six years remains low, affecting the state’s overall coverage.
To bridge the gap, he said the Home Department is working with the Health and Social Welfare Departments, hospitals and UIDAI to improve Aadhaar enrolment for young children. He also appealed to the public to make full use of the new facility and encouraged the media to spread awareness about the importance of timely Aadhaar registration and updates.
Ashok Kumar acknowledged that many people continue to face difficulties while correcting names, surnames and other details in Aadhaar, particularly women after marriage whose surnames often change.
Differences between Aadhaar records, birth certificates and educational documents have created challenges for many applicants, he said, adding that the government is working with the concerned authorities to simplify the correction process.
He also urged parents to ensure that children’s names and dates of birth are entered correctly at the time of birth registration and school admission, pointing out that errors made in the early years often lead to complications during board examinations and while applying for official documents later in life. Schools have also been advised to verify these details carefully during admissions, he added.
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Expressing hope that the initiative would not remain limited to Imphal, Ashok Kumar said similar Aadhaar Seva Kendras should be established in more districts and subdivisions so that residents across Manipur can access Aadhaar services without travelling long distances.
Speaking on the occasion, Ngachan Zimik, deputy director General of UIDAI Regional Office, Guwahati, said the Imphal centre is the first Aadhaar Seva Kendra in Manipur and will significantly improve the delivery of Aadhaar services in the state.
He said Aadhaar has become one of the most important identity documents in the country, enabling people to access government welfare schemes, financial services and other essential facilities. He urged every eligible resident to enrol for Aadhaar and keep their information updated to avoid inconvenience while availing public services.
The newly opened Aadhaar Seva Kendra will provide a dedicated, citizen-friendly facility for new Aadhaar enrolments, biometric updates, corrections of demographic details and other Aadhaar-related services under one roof, reducing the need for residents to depend on multiple enrolment centres.
