Government papers kept in queue at Kushtagi Aadhaar centre as people wait for their turn

KOPPAL: Tired of waiting for hours before the Aadhaar centre at Kushtagi in the district opens at 10 am, and due to lack of facilities, people who come from different parts have resorted to placing their government documents in queue.

With schools and colleges reopening, people are queuing up at the Aadhaar centre for corrections, change of address and other such services. But since only 20-25 applications are dealt with in a day, people are arriving as early as 5 am.

Residents of about 25 villages around Kushtagi town have to depend on the lone Aadhaar centre. They arrive early and place their documents in queue while they rest close by.

“Young childen and elders too have to wait long hours. There is no cleanliness around here. This may affect the health of people. There are only two staffers at this centre and some locals pay bribes to get their work done”, rues Basavaraj, an applicant.

“It’s difficult for working people to wait endlessly. I have been coming here to get my work done for the last three days”, says Mallamma.

There are also allegations that the staff and the Aadhaar centre give preference to those who pay up more than the prescribed fee. Due to this, some people have to keep coming back for 3-4 days. People are now demanding that the government open more Aadhaar centres or introduce a system like in RTOs where applicants are given appointments.