Challenges of Refugees due to Aadhaar

What is the issue?

Refugees in India are being denied access to essential services due to ambiguity in their eligibility for obtaining Aadhaar cards.

What is the present condition of refugees in India?

• The refugees in India are unable to gain access to essential services owing to lack of Aadhaar, as all services are now linked to the Aadhaar number.
• Even though they meet the UIDAI requirements of having both residence and identification documents, they are unable to apply for Aadhaar.

What are the provisions related to inclusiveness in UIDAI?

• Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) formulated Aadhaar primarily as a tool for socio-economic inclusion and not as a proof of citizenship.
• In lines with this objective, a simple enrolment system was designed to accept wide range of documents as proof of identity and residence to easily procure an Aadhaar number.
• To enable people without any documents to get access to Aadhaar, UIDAI accepts a ‘Letter of Introduction’ from a wide set of people who are pre-designated as Introducers.
• The Aadhaar Act states that any individual who has resided in India for at least 182 days in the year immediately preceding the date of application is eligible for Aadhaar.
• The UIDAI has also clarified that foreigners fulfilling the above requirement can obtain an Aadhaar, subject to the submission of the prescribed documents.

What are the challenges for refugees in India?

• Refugees are unable to gain access to Aadhaar cards due the lack of clarity & knowledge of the provisions by the local centres where Aadhaar applications are processed.
• While the local centres sometimes recognise Sri Lankan and Tibetan proof of identity and residence, they fail to recognise the refugees holding refugee status documents authorised by UNHCR.
• Many eligible refugees are afraid to apply for Aadhaar due to fear of being wrongly prosecuted as local authorities often incorrectly equate them with illegal immigrants.
• With the increasing enforcement of Aadhaar as precondition to access any service, refugees are not even able to avail services once they had.
• If a solution is not derived sooner, then the refugees will face day to day difficulties like getting sim card, opening bank account, attending schools, renting accommodation, health services, etc.

Source: The Indian Express