Newborns to get Aadhaar cards

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 30

Newborns will get Aadhaar cards at the time of their birth in the state — a development that will go a long way in preparing a database of children for assured delivery of several services.

The new initiative of the BJP government is set for a statewide launch on May 2 following a successful pilot project at Tigaon block in Faridabad district. “Under the pilot project, launched in collaboration with the NITI Ayog and Unique Identification Authority of India, more than 3,500 children were enrolled,” sources told The Tribune.

“Besides monitoring the delivery of welfare and health-related benefits to infants, the programme will help in tracking children from birth to immunisation to school admissions. The database such as the Birth and Death Information System, the Mother Child Tracking System and the Integrated Child Development Scheme will be integrated with the Aadhaar card for assured and timely delivery of services to mothers and children,” the sources said.

Officials said the new programme envisaged Aadhaar enrolment of an infant at the place of birth by setting up an enrolment centre. In fact, more than 550 Aadhaar enrolment kits are being deployed for Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs). “The photo, name, address and parents’ details are captured and the Aadhaar card of either the mother or the father will be linked with the child’s enrolment,” the sources said.