Aadhaar cards to be issued by Anganwadi centres of Telangana

Hyderabad: In a move that can prove to be a boon for pregnant women and children below six years, the Central government has notified Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) centres in Telangana as registration centres for issuing of Aadhaar cards.Child development project officers (CDPOs) working in aganwadi centres will be Aadhaar enrolment officers.

As part of the new initiative, the Central government has also sanctioned Rs 4.02 crore for the State out of total requirement of Rs 6.70 crore.Aganwadis will be authorised to issue Aadhaar cards to new-born babies, children and pregnant women.

“It’s a great move since pregnant women and children were forced to trek miles together to get their Aadhaar. But now, they can get cards from the village CDPOs itself,” ICDS Secretary M Jagadeeshwar told Telangana Today on Tuesday.The department has started purchasing equipment such as computers, scanners, printers, fingerprint machines, iris scanners and GPS, Jagadeeshwar said, adding that the equipment would be sent to CDPO offices and training will also be imparted to all CDPOs in the State.

It will be implemented in two to three months. The decision was taken since ICDS centres will already have all data pertaining to children and pregnant women, and hence it would be easier to verify data and issue cards at the village level.The Secretary said the government was also planning to start an Aadhaar enrolment drive in all villages once the equipment and required material are made available at the centres.

A boon for pregnant women
• Pregnant women, kids (below 6 years) can enrol for Aadhaar at anganwadis
• Child development project officers will work as Aadhaar enrolment officers
• Project requires Rs 6.70 cr of which Centre sanctions Rs 4.02 cr
• Scheme to take off in two-three months

QuoteIt’s a great move since pregnant women and children can get cards from the village CDPOs itself-M Jagadeeshwar, ICDS Secretary.