Keypoints:
- UIDAI has said that Aadhaar should not be misused as an excuse for denial of any essential services.
- Health Ministry has come up with an SOP on the vaccination of the ones who might not have any prescribed identity cards including Aadhaar card.
On Saturday, UIDAI has clarified that Aadhaar is not mandatory for any Covid related services. This decision comes after misleading reports that claims that Aadhaar is mandatory for hospitalisation and vaccines.
UIDAI has said that if anyone is denied any services because the person does not have an Aadhaar card, the issue must be brought to the knowledge of the authorities of the concerned department.
Issuing a statement, UIDAI has said that, “If one does not have Aadhaar or if Aadhaar online verification is not successful due to some reason, the concerned agency or department has to provide the service as per Section 7 of Aadhaar Act, 2016 and the Cabinet Secretariat OM dated 19th Dec 2017.”
Aadhaar card is termed as one of the photo identity cards which is required for vaccine registration. However, there are various other documents which can be used if an individual does not have an Aadhaar card. PAN card, driving licence, government’s health insurance card, pension document are also considered valid for vaccine registration. The Health Ministry has come up with an SOP on the vaccination of the ones who might not have any prescribed identity cards including Aadhaar card.
In the statement, the UIDAI said that Aadhaar card should not be misused as an excuse for denial of any essential services.
“There is a well-established exception handling mechanism (EHM) for Aadhaar and it should be followed to ensure delivery of benefits and services in the absence of Aadhaar. If a resident does not possess Aadhaar for some of the other reason, she/he must not be denied essential services as per Aadhaar Act,” the statement said.
This order is just a reiteration of UIDAI’s existing regulations. In one of the circular, dated October 24, 2017, the authorities said that benefits or services should not be denied for want of Aadhaar. Section 7 of the Aadhaar Act mentions that until a person is assigned an Aadhaar number, he/she cannot be denied ration or pension or such other entitlements for want of Aadhaar and the concerned department should verify the identity of the person using alternate means of identification as per the relevant notification.
