Sambalpur: A racket here has reportedly cracked the secret password of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) required for Aadhaar card registration and is looting innocent people in broad daylight.
When the cards should be available free of cost to all Indian citizens, members of the racket charge up to Rs 500 for each card from people without issuing any money receipt.
They have set up their offices at different locations of the town which operate from 6 pm till 9 pm, it was learnt.
Resentment is brewing in the town as such illegal operation is going on under the very nose of the administration, a report said.
Aadhaar cards issued by UIDAI have been made mandatory for all citizens to avail basic facilities offered by the government.
The Centre has also directed all states to ensure no person is left unregistered under the scheme. While a large chunk of population has already come under its purview, the left out people can get cards by applying online before March end.
They should get their cards within two weeks of their enrolment, according to guidelines. However, people still have to wait for months to get their cards.
Meanwhile, the district administration has opened special centres in all NACs and at the office of Sambalpur Municipal Corporation to receive online applications.
For online registration, some officers have been deputed who have access to special email id and secret password to facilitate things. However, the secret password has been leaked in the town, it has been alleged.
Some members of the racket, in connivance with some corrupt government officials, managed to know the password and continued to extract money from desperate citizens at some selected outlets, it was learnt.
For example, enrolment is going on unabated inside a shop at Budharaja Pradhanpada area of the town. The brokers are charging up to `500 from each applicant for the cards.
When contacted, ADM Yudhisthir Nayak said special enrolment centres have been opened at all block headquarters, NAC offices and municipal corporation office. No private firm or individual has been assigned to prepare the cards, he added.
Money collection for these cards is illegal and the matter would be probed, he said. Besides, Sambalpur SP would be asked to bring the culprits to book, the ADM added. PNN
