Medha Kulkarni flags Aadhaar authentication hurdles for senior citizens, the disabled in Parliament
New Delhi : BJP MP Dr. Medha Vishram Kulkarni on Wednesday raised concerns in Parliament over the difficulties faced by citizens unable to authenticate their Aadhaar due to biometric issues, particularly senior citizens, persons with disabilities, farmers, and labourers in rural areas.
In her Special Mention in the Lok Sabha, Kulkarni said that worn-out fingerprints, retinal damage, physical impairments, and chronic health conditions often prevent biometric verification, leading to denial of access to essential services such as food rations under the Public Distribution System (PDS), old-age pensions, healthcare benefits, and banking.
She noted that while the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has provisions for “exceptional enrolment” and alternatives such as facial recognition and OTP-based authentication, these mechanisms are not being effectively implemented on the ground. “Frontline staff are often unaware or unwilling to facilitate such cases,” Kulkarni said.
The Pune MP urged the government to take immediate steps, including implementing alternative Aadhaar authentication methods in mission mode, ensuring no citizen is denied welfare due to biometric mismatch, launching a nationwide awareness campaign with grievance redressal systems, and appointing nodal officers in each district for timely resolution.
“Aadhaar should not become a barrier to welfare but a tool for inclusive access,” she added.
