18 October,2012 06:23 AM IST | | Saurabh Katkurwar
In order to ensure maximum enrolment for Phase II of the Unique Identification (UID) card scheme, the state has given its go-ahead to the demands made by local civic authorities of having doorstep registration via mobile UID centres.
For the people: Registration in progress at a UID centre. File pic
The idea to start mobile UID centres germinated after civic bodies started receiving complaints from people that some of the centres were too far from their residences and societies. This resulted in poor public attendance at these centres.
Based on people's complaints, the civic authorities wrote to the information and technology (IT) department, seeking permission to allow enrolment agencies to set up UID centres in housing societies itself. This they said would not only benefit people greatly, but would also up the enrolment numbers.
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The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) undertook a similar initiative after it realised that public participation for the Phase II of the UID scheme in the region received poor public response.
As per statistics, more than 6.5 lakh people in Navi Mumbai enrolled for the UID card scheme and another five lakh are yet to enrol.
Deputy Municipal Commissioner Suresh Patil said, "We discovered that number of people visiting UID centres was way less than what we had anticipated. This was because people who live far away from the centres preferred not to travel the vast distance. So we sought permission from the IT department to allow us to set up mobile UID centres in housing societies, as several societies demanded it. As of now, we have processed requests of three housing societies for mobile centres.
Once we receive an approval from the IT department, we will allow enrolment agencies to go ahead and set up mobile UID centres in these societies."
Officials of the IT department claimed they received over 300 requests from across the state, seeking permission for setting up mobile UID centres in various in their premises.
Santosh Bhogle, joint secretary of IT department, said the mobile UID centres would boost public participation.
"We have received requests from several housing societies through civic authorities for having mobile UID centres. So we have started granting permission for the same. Residents of other housing societies too can enrol at a mobile UID centre set up at another housing society. These mobile centres will speed up the enrolment process," said Bhogle.u00a0
