Aadhaar of children mostly deactivated
Even the cards of senior citizens are also cancelled due to a mismatch in biometrics.
Hyderabad: A large number of Aadhaar cards issued to children, aged below five years, have been deactivated. As it is not possible to take the biometrics details of children below five years, the cards were issued without taking them. According to the Aadhaar Act, the biometrics details of such children have to be updated after they cross the age limit.
These teenagers should again update the biometrics details once they cross 15 years. They have to complete the formalities within two years or else their Aadhaar will be deactivated or cancelled. Lack of awareness and negligence of parents have led to the cancellation of a large number of cards.
Even the cards of senior citizens are also cancelled due to a mismatch in biometrics. Some of them are hit by cataract, while others have their fingerprints vanished due to old age. The issue came to light when some of the elderly persons were denied benefits of welfare schemes.
Nearly 8 lakh Aadhaar cards have been cancelled in both the Telugu states and 50 per cent of them belongs to children and senior citizens. Others were axed due duplication, errors in fingerprints, etc. The UIDAI has authorised its regional to deactivate Aadhaar cards. Across the county, over 85 lakh Aadhaar cards have been deactivated till date.
MVS Rami Reddy, UIDAI deputy director general, said that Aadhaar cards were deactivated for a number of reasons which are stated in Sections 27 and 28 of Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016. They can be activated after cardholders update their details, Rami Reddy said.