The District Election Officer (DEO), Ukhrul, has launched a special campaign to link Aadhaar cards with the voter’s identity card for three assembly constituencies namely Ukhrul, Chingai and Phungyar on Monday at DC conference hall Ukhrul.
The move is voluntary and those willing to link Aadhaar card with the voter ID cards can approach the district election office or their electoral roll officer. The process can also be done online.
Briefing on the objectives of Aadhaar card collection of electors, Krishna Kumar, DEO, who is also the deputy commissioner, Ukhrul said that Election Commission of India has recently notified for collection of electors Aadhaar cards with the aim to authenticate and weed out duplicate entries in the electoral rolls.
In his speech, Chunglenmang Kipgen, Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) 44-Ukhrul, who is also the Addl DC of Ukhrul, said that the main idea behind the drive was to collect Aadhar from all the electors and link with the voters’ identity cards as some people have given their Aadhaar while others have not provided.
Election Commission of India (ECI) was stressing on collection of Aadhaar from every elector to do away duplicity in the electoral rolls. Therefore, collection of Aadhaar cards was necessitated, he stated.
Electors could have two electoral rolls. For instance, one at Phungyar and other one at Ukhrul wherein the electors who possess two electoral rolls can exercise one of the franchises at Phungyar and in his or her name the second person can cast his vote at Ukhrul. This is not correct. So, to do away with duplicity, the ECI has taken this bold step, he said, while elaborating further on the moves initiated by the ECI.
He continued that Block Level Officers will collect the original Aadhar cards from all the electors of Kamjong and Ukhrul districts and xerox the front and back side of the Aadhaar card and digitise at Garuda mobile application.
Garuda is a mobile application used by all the Block Level Officers (BLOs) for digitising the information of the electors.
There are four forms namely form 6, 7, 8 and 8A. These forms are further segregated. Form No. 6 is specifically designed for new/ fresh enrolment, meaning for people who have attained the age of 18.
Initially, January 1 used to be the day for enrolment in the electoral rolls. However, the ECI has now earmarked four days for it. The days for enrolment are 1 January, 1st April, 1st July and 1st October. With more days given for enrolment, for fresh enrolment if they are to fill up the form in March, they need not wait till next year January as they can now simply fill up on 1 April, Chunglenmang Kipgen said.
When the BLOs go for Aadhar cards collection they will directly go to Form 6 B and enter the electors Aadhaar number. This form was introduced this year for collecting Aadhaar number of existing electors to authenticate the entries in the electoral rolls, he added.
The launching programme was attended by Suranjoy Singh, SDO Ukhrul; Lalthanzam, SDO LM block, and representatives from BJP, Congress and NPF parties, among others.
It may be pointed out that following the directive of the Election Commission of India (ECI) letter issued on July 4 and the subsequent order issued by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Manipur on July 5, the District Election Officer/DC Ukhrul, on July 29, had issued notification for launching collection of electors Aadhaar on voluntary basis for linking and authentication of electoral rolls for the three assembly constituencies namely 43-Phungyar (ST), 44-Ukhrul (ST) and 45-Chingai (ST).
It has also directed Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to visit all the polling stations for collections of electors Aadhaar. The exercise will continue 31 March, 2023. Electors can also link and authenticate their electoral rolls on the following links namely nsvp.in and voterportal.eci.gov.in. with effect from 1 August, 2022. It further urged all the stakeholders, CSOs, electors and general public to extend full cooperation in the drive.
