- Aadhaar records updated based on PIN code.
After a wait of seven years, the official website of the Union Ministry of Aadhaar has started listing Ladakh as a separate entity for the first time. In this important development, fulfilling the long standing public demand of the residents of Ladakh Union Territory, Ladakh will now be written in the State column instead of Jammu and Kashmir.
After the intervention of Vinay Kumar Saxena, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Union Territory, residents of Ladakh can now see their correct identity in the Aadhaar records.
Ladakh became a union territory in 2019
Despite Ladakh becoming a Union Territory after being separated from Jammu and Kashmir in the year 2019, the name of the earlier state, i.e. J&K, continued to appear in the Aadhaar card records of the people of Ladakh, whereas Ladakh should have been written there. This was causing a lot of anxiety and trouble among the people. Taking serious note of the long delay in this important matter, the Lieutenant Governor directed the administration of the Union Territory to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
After this the administration took up the matter at a higher level with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). This long overdue reform has now been successfully implemented, ensuring that the unique regional identity of Ladakh is accurately reflected in the Aadhaar card.
People of Ladakh were facing a lot of inconvenience due to the name of Jammu and Kashmir continuously appearing in the Aadhaar records of the residents of Ladakh. Residents were facing difficulty in using Aadhaar as a valid document of identity and address while availing various services, as the ‘State’ column in Aadhaar did not match the post-reorganization status of Ladakh. The issue not only created difficulties for citizens, but also affected the correct representation of the Union Territory in Aadhaar-related records and progress reports.
Residents of Ladakh will benefit greatly: Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena said that this development will greatly benefit the residents of Ladakh, as it will remove procedural hurdles and ensure easy access to services. He said that ensuring that the identity of Ladakh is correctly reflected in official records is not only an administrative necessity, but also a matter of identity and convenience of our people.
He said, ‘The successful resolution of this long pending issue reflects the commitment of the Union Territory Administration towards accountable governance, ease of living and ensuring that the unique identity of Ladakh is accurately represented at all official forums.’
UT administration found a new way with UIDAI: Saxena
Saxena said, ‘To solve this problem, the UT administration in collaboration with UIDAI came up with a new way so that the State column can be updated from one place. Instead of each resident visiting different Aadhaar centers for correction, the records were updated based on specific PIN codes of Ladakh. These PIN codes were verified in collaboration with the Postal Department and shared with UIDAI.
He said, ‘This step has brought a lot of relief to the people of Ladakh, because now they do not need to visit different Aadhaar centers to get their records updated. Now residents can easily download their updated e-Aadhaar from the official portal of UIDAI and those who want to get PVC Aadhaar card can order it online by paying a small fee.
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