Workshop On Aadhar Uses Inaugurated By Chief Secretary

Bhubaneswar: With another step towards Good Governance, Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra inaugurated the Workshop on simplifying the use of Aadhara held under the joint auspices of the Government of Odisha and the Unique Identification Authority of India ( UIDAI) today in Lokseba Bhawan conference hall.

In his inaugural address, Mahapatra told “Simplifying the use of aadhara accelerates ease of living while ensuring effective and accurate delivery of various public services”. He advised different departments to “have detail interaction with UIDAI officers in the workshop and get all their doubts clarified for enhancing the use of aadhara numbers”.

He also advised UIDAI to keep on updating of the Aadhara data and biometric impressions periodically, more particularly the biometric of babies and children, so that the data in Aadhara portal does not get obsolete in course of time. Mahapatra also emphasized on enrollment of the new born babies, old and infirm people who were not able to come over to Aadhara enrollment centers.

Further, Mahapatra asked UIDAI to integrate aadhara related services with Mo Seva Kendras ( MSKs) so that people in remote pockets get the chance for new enrolment and registration of  required changes in aadhara data. It may be pertinent to mention here that presently 5923 MSKYs are operating in the State at block, GP and ward level. These Kendras are gaining rapid popularity, and the number of people using these Kendras is on constant increase.

Chief Secretary added, use of the aadhara authentication in public distribution system, paddy procurement, farmer’s welfare schemes like Kalia, different types and scholarships, disbursement of benefits under various social security schemes in Odisha has yielded amazing results. Mahapatra also advised UIDAI to undertake intensive awareness programmes about various benefits of possessing a valid and updated aadhara card.

Chief Executive Officer of UIDAI Dr Saurav Garg said, “Odisha is a lead and robust user State of aadhara data. Adhara registration in the age group of 18 and above is reaching cent percent. Dr Garg gave an overarching view on uses and utilities of aadhara, and termed aadhara as a “key identifier of inclusive growth”. He added that district level committees would be formed for monitoring the proper use and enrollment of aadhara.

The workshop was held in three different sessions’ viz. Key note and Inaugural session, Technical and Valedictory session. Themes like recent initiatives for expanding the uses of aadhara, aadhara and effective e-Governance, State initiatives and best practices, aadhara payment bridge, aadhara in direct transfer of benefits, enhancing aadhara enrollment eco-system etc were discussed in the workshop.

Development Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Jena presided the valedictory session. In his valedictory address Jena lighted on the use of aadhara in enhancement of targeted and inclusive growth, and peoples’ satisfaction. He emphasized on creation of aadhara eco-system at the ground level through proper convergence.

Additional Chief Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management Satyabrata Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary Water Resources Anu Garg, Principal Secretary Finance Vishal Kumar Dev, Principal Secretary Agriculture Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Secretary Electronics and Information Technology Manoj Kumar Sahoo along with senior officers of various departments participated in the workshop. Experts namely P. Sangeetha, Amit Bhargav, Sumesh Joshi, Sudhipta Nayak, Ansuman Kamila, D. Bhaskara Rao spoke on above mentioned themes.