Nagaland Opens First Dedicated Aadhaar Service Center in Dimapur

Kohima: Nagaland officially opened its first dedicated UIDAI Aadhaar Seva Kendra in Dimapur on Friday. The facility sits at Purana Bazaar, right by the Labour Department office. Officials hope the new site fixes the state’s sluggish enrollment numbers.

Current data shows Nagaland trails the national average by a wide margin. While the country hits nearly 99 percent saturation, Nagaland sits at only 67 percent. Roughly one-third of the population lacks an ID. Deputy Director General of UIDAI’s Guwahati office, Ngachan Zimik, noted the disparity. "Aadhaar enrolment in Nagaland currently stands at 67 per cent, leaving around 33 per cent of the state's population yet to be enrolled," he said.

Regional numbers vary wildly. Dimapur leads with 95 percent coverage, while Kohima hits 68 percent. Other districts struggle, falling between 59 and 63 percent. Advisor for Tribal Affairs and Election H. Tovihoto Ayemi led the inauguration ceremony.

The center operates seven days a week, closing only for public holidays. It can handle 250 requests daily. Experts demand mandatory biometric updates for children aged 5 to 15 to keep IDs active. Residents need these documents for school entry, scholarships, and state aid. Despite 160 smaller centers operating across the state, overall results remain thin. This new hub aims to bridge the gap.