Incorrect and incomplete addresses holding up distribution of UID cards

GANGTOK, 17 July: The Department of Posts has been at the receiving end of criticism for its failure to deliver Adhaar cards [Unique Identification cards] to the people. The distribution process started way back in October last year and at present as many as 1.5 lakh cards still need to be delivered out of the 4 lakh or so cards released by to the Department of Posts for delivery to card holders. And the number is increasing as more consignments get deposited at the post offices every day. 
It may be informed that the postal department has been commissioned by DESME for the delivery of the cards to the general public, who, at the moment, are dissatisfied with the entire process.
NOW! spoke to the concerned officials at the Head Post Office here to find out the reasons for the alleged irregularities in the distribution process of UID cards. Officials highlighted that even with all the manpower and extra hours put in by all, the manner in which the addresses have been marked and other major discrepancies in the data put into the cards has created this ‘confusion’ for the general public as well as the Department of Posts.
Pointing at the huge bundles of UID cards that have addresses marked in the most confusing manner – for eg. “Arithang, below Paljor Stadium” and other similarly confusing addresses like “Tibet Road, below Lall Market” - the officials at the post office have also shed light on lapses on the part of the concerned authorities for not putting in the required phone numbers in the cards even when there is space for the same to be filled along with permanent addresses.
“We are facing a lot of problems in delivering the cards since the addresses are very confusing. There are cards of small children with their ages mentioned as 47 years and photos of old people. We also want to clarify that some people in a particular family have received the cards while others have not and this is because of the way in which the cards have been sent to us. Whatever cards are sent to us in bulk we immediately distribute them through the 18 postmen and women we have deployed for this purpose within Gangtok alone,” informs an official.
Similarly, she adds that the postal department has also gone out of its way to put in late nights and ‘heavy-duty’ for the delivery of cards by putting in additional beats for the postmen to cover. These postmen are doing double duty by actually delivering cards up to areas such as Banjhakri Falls and then moving towards Sichey towards Bhojoghari and Burtuk.
“As you can see we have also transformed our speed post section as one area which is specifically dedicated to distribution and data for UID cards. Other than this we have also given another room in the head office where people can come and collect their cards on their own as well. It is very difficult for us to balance the already posted letters, parcels, speed posts etc to be delivered but we have not compromised in any way. If there are no proper addresses then where will we deliver the cards?” questioned the official.
It was also informed that the department in a recently convened a meeting with DESME had proposed that the respective panchayats and councilors come and collect the cards of their localities in bulk which would be an effective means for distribution since these people would know the people in their areas personally. However, even this proposal has not materialized although some panchayats have come forward at their personal level to take over the task.
“To make it more convenient, we have even opened the sealed envelopes so that the postmen and women can identify the people in the photographs and have also delivered some cards in this manner. However, there are problems like some people getting two cards, one that has the correct data and photograph and one that does not. This we want to highlight is not the postal department’s fault that these cards do not have the correct data,” added the official.
Reasons, like people changing their temporary addresses and delivering the cards to people from outside the state who have already changed residence after the 18 September earthquake or for that matter gone back to their respective states is also one big challenge the postal department.
The department also informs that they have been sending the UID cards for the districts to the district head offices every-time a new bulk of cards come in with no cards pending at the moment for delivery and that it is convenient for the delivery of cards in rural areas rather than urban areas where people change their residence more frequently.
“We know that there are still problems that exist and we are trying our best to iron out all these problems. We want to add that we have put in extra manpower and extra computers and have taken all necessary steps and are trying our best not to leave any stone unturned in this process,” stated the official.