Pune: Residents seeking to update their Aadhaar details are frustrated as enrolment centres across Maharashtra grapple with a shortage of functional biometric kits.Essential for fresh enrolments and updates, these kits — comprising web cameras and biometric devices — are short in supply, leaving many centres shuttered or unable to serve applicants.In Pune alone, the problem is stark: of the 215 centres sanctioned by the state IT department, only 146 remain operational. A district official told TOI: “There are issues with 69 centres where operators were blacklisted and must first pass a certification exam before being reassigned kits. Operator activation proposals have already been sent to UIDAI and are under process.”The shortage stems from delays in distributing over 4,000 new kits recently allocated by the state IT department to district collectorates. The rollout has been uneven and centres are either stuck with old damaged kits or awaiting arrival of new ones.A senior official at the Pune collectorate said, “Many operators cannot use their kits because of technical issues or system lockouts, leaving registrations incomplete because operators have not cleared mandatory exams.”Citizens are bearing the brunt of the disruptions, forced to make multiple trips to different centres, only to find services suspended. Mithali Raju, who attempted to update her address for bank-related work, said, “Most centres shown on the app do not have operational kits, forcing citizens to shuttle between locations. Even a basic update required for routine services is hampered.”Sunita K, a working professional from Pune, voiced similar frustrations: “We visited three kendras, but none was functional. I need to update my daughter’s cellphone number in her Aadhaar and the task is pending for over two weeks.”The lack of reliable information exacerbates the issue. Thane resident Satish Shankarnarayan said, “There must be a proper updated list on the UIDAI app guiding citizens to operational centres. People waste hours just figuring out where to go.”The state IT department confirmed that around 2,500 kits are available currently, 1,155 are yet to be added and many old kits remain unusable. A senior IT official said, “There is also a delay because operators must clear certification exams before reactivation.”Advocates urged swift reforms to ease the burden on vulnerable groups. “It is high time the process is made hassle-free. Citizens should not suffer because operators have not taken their exams,” said Meera Marathe, a senior citizen activist.As Aadhaar continues to be indispensable for accessing govt and financial services, experts said persistent equipment and staffing challenges leave citizens in limbo.
