Assam government asks Centre to unlock biometric details

Guwahati: Assam government has written to the Centre urging it to unlock the biometric details of about 38 lakh individuals, who had appeared for the claims and objections process of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Assam’s home secretary Gyanendra Dev Tripathi told ET on Friday: “We have written to the Centre to unlock the biometric details. We are in touch with the government of India and trying to solve the problem.” A day earlier, Tripathi and Assam’s chief secretary Jishnu Barua had participated in a meeting to find a solution to the imbroglio.

Some people have complained that they are facing hardships due to the locking of biometric details. One such person said: “During NRC hearing, the home and political department took my biometric details. My family members also gave the details. I applied thrice for Aadhaar number but UIDAI authority notified me that Assam home and political department has blocked my Aadhaar number. I am a student and Aadhaar number is very important for me.”

Another person said: “For availing several government schemes, we need Aadhaar. However, despite repeated attempts, I am not getting the number as my details are locked.” A senior NRC official told ET that the NRC coordinator too had written to the Assam government to unlock the details. The official added: “Aadhaar does not confer citizenship. Even NRC does not confer citizenship.” ET had reported on Monday that due to the locking of biometric details these people haven’t received their Aadhaar numbers.