In light of the penalties imposed by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Post Office Aadhaar Centres, many are questioning the fairness of the revised penalty structure. As outlined in BD Directorate’s letter dated 24.04.2023 (Letter No. 36-15/2017-BD&MD), the penalties imposed for errors made by operators during Aadhaar transactions are steep and have sparked concern across the board.
Alarming Statistics: Penalties Eating into Revenues
To put things in perspective, the total revenue earned by the Department of Posts (DOP) in December 2022 was ₹3.84 crore. However, the penalty imposed by UIDAI in the same period amounted to ₹85.56 lakh—an eye-watering 22% of the total revenue. Such significant penalties have naturally raised eyebrows, leading to a push for stricter adherence to UIDAI guidelines to avoid future revenue loss.
Avoidable Errors Driving Major Penalties
A review of the revised penalty structure (Annexure A) reveals that many of the most common infractions—like demographic or document errors—can be mitigated through heightened awareness and alertness on the part of Aadhaar centre operators. Simple mistakes, such as incorrect entry of demographic data or the submission of invalid documents, can result in fines ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹50,000 per packet, depending on the severity of the error.
Revised Penalty Structure Highlights:
| Criteria |
Penalty (as per new policy) |
| Gross violation of guidelines with intent to fraud (e.g., bypass of operator/supervisor biometrics) |
₹1,00,000 per machine |
| Gross violation of guidelines (overcharging residents, running unauthorized centres, corrupt practices) |
₹50,000 per incident |
| – Full fingerprints/iris incorrectly marked as missing |
₹50,000 per packet |
| – Photo of photo within a biometric exception |
|
| – Exception photo of a different person or an object |
|
| Photo of Photo (POP) |
₹50,000 per packet |
| – Fraudulent or missing document |
₹10,000 per packet |
| Use of abusive or unparliamentary language in demographic data |
₹1,000 per packet |
| Document Error II (DOE-II) |
|
| – Poor quality, invalid document, or demographic data mismatch |
₹1,000 per packet |
| Biometric Error II (BE-II) |
|
| – Bad quality photo in exception or exception not visible |
₹1,000 per packet |
| Biometric Error III (BE-III) |
– Photo not as per guidelines |
| – Gender/age/photo mismatch, error in name/address, or relationship mismatch |
₹1,000 per packet |
Recommendations to Reduce Penalties
To combat these mounting penalties, several recommendations have been made to improve operator efficiency and reduce errors:
- Workshops at various levels: It is suggested that training workshops be conducted at Division, Regional, and Circle Offices to raise operator awareness about UIDAI guidelines and the potential consequences of violations.
- Refresher training programs: Regular refresher training, in collaboration with the UIDAI Regional Office, can ensure operators stay up-to-date with guidelines and prevent errors arising from ignorance or carelessness.
- Substitute operators: Training GDS staff to act as substitute operators will help address the issue of operator unavailability, ensuring Aadhaar services are always accessible.
By implementing these recommendations, the Department of Posts can reduce the risk of penalties while maintaining a high level of service at Aadhaar Centres. The goal is clear: improve operational vigilance, minimize errors, and safeguard the hard-earned revenues of Post Office Aadhaar Centres.
In conclusion, while the UIDAI’s revised penalty structure is stringent, it is not without remedy. By focusing on training, vigilance, and adherence to guidelines, Aadhaar centre operators can mitigate errors and ensure a smoother, penalty-free operation.
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