Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Imphal: Manipur officially opened its first Aadhaar Seva Kendra at Waheng Leikai in Imphal West on Thursday. State Home Department officials inaugurated the facility to centralize identity services. The center aims to clear administrative backlogs. Commissioner-cum-Secretary N. Ashok Kumar led the ceremony, flanked by Additional Secretary A. Subhash Singh, UIDAI Deputy Director General Ngachan Zimik, and Director Col. Abhishek Kaushik.
The state government spent years pushing for this hub. It finally materialized this week. The center features five operational kits to handle high traffic and will remain open daily, barring public holidays. Officials hope to expand this model to other districts soon.
Aadhaar coverage in Manipur sits between 87 and 88 percent. However, registration for children under five remains worryingly thin. The Home Department is now coordinating with the Health and Social Welfare Departments to close this gap. N. Ashok Kumar emphasized the urgency of the situation. "While Aadhaar enrolment in Manipur has reached around 87–88 per cent, enrolment among children in the 0–5 years age group remains comparatively low," he said.
Beyond new registrations, the center provides demographic corrections, biometric updates, and grievance redressal. Authorities warned that discrepancies between birth certificates, school records, and Aadhaar files often create massive headaches for students later in life. Parents must verify details during initial enrollment. Schools have also received instructions to audit records closely.
Ngachan Zimik highlighted the necessity of Mandatory Biometric Updates for children aged 5 and 15. These updates ensure uninterrupted access to scholarships, exam registrations, and government benefits. These specific updates remain free of cost until September 30, 2026. Residents can book appointments online to bypass wait times at the new facility, which also features full wheelchair accessibility.
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