Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi

Udupi, Jan 7: The number of children obtaining Aadhaar cards in Udupi district has seen a decline, with over 7,000 children still not enrolled. According to available data, there are 40,233 children below the age of six in the district, of whom only 32,329 have Aadhaar cards. As many as 7,904 children are yet to be issued Aadhaar.

Taluk-wise figures reveal that in Brahmavar, 1,609 out of 8,404 children do not have Aadhaar cards. In Karkala, 1,023 out of 6,364 children are yet to be enrolled. Kundapur has 3,248 children without Aadhaar out of a total of 15,091, while in Udupi taluk, 2,024 out of 10,374 children do not possess Aadhaar numbers.

The Bal Aadhaar card is printed in blue colour. Parents are reminded to update the card once the child completes five years of age. After attaining the ages of five and 15 years, children are required to revalidate their Aadhaar by submitting their biometric details.

Bal Aadhaar is essentially an Aadhaar identification document specially designed for children below five years of age. Unlike adults, children are not required to provide biometric data such as fingerprints or iris scans. Instead, the card contains the child’s photograph, name, date of birth, and basic details of one of the parents.

Bal Aadhaar cards are available for children below the age of five, including newborns. The card is essential as proof of identity, to avail benefits under various government schemes, access healthcare services, open bank accounts in the child’s name, and to create other documents, including passports.

Officials say that parents are delaying the process assuming Aadhaar can be obtained at the time of school admission, or because they do not intend to open bank accounts or apply for passports or other documents for their children until they turn six.

The number of children below six years of age in the district includes 8,404 in Brahmavar, 6,364 in Karkala, 15,091 in Kundapur, and 10,374 in Udupi taluk, taking the total to 40,233.

Aadhaar coordinator of Udupi district Rangaswamy advised that Bal Aadhaar can be obtained once a child completes six months of age. He noted that enrolling early helps avoid the need to submit additional documents later and also makes future documentation processes easier for children.