Govt has no data on cost incurred per card for Aadhar - RTI

The government launched the ambitious Aadhar card based identification system by spending thousands of crores. But when asked about the cost incurred for issuing per card, the UIDAI seems to have no data or calculation for it, as per the response provided in a reply to a query filed by RTI Activist Anil Galgali. Also the government seems unware of how many cards would be totally required and also how much cards remains pending.

RTI activist Anil Galgali had asked the Unique Identification Authority of India to have information linked to the Aadhaar identity card. On the application of Anil Galgali, Assistant Director General of Unique Identification Authority of India, Ashok Kumar inform that the information about total required cards and the number of cards required is not available now.

A copy of the notification dated 20 September 2019 regarding the estimated target of making the total card was handed over, while go through with notification for this card does not even mention the total estimated number of cards.On the information of the total cards made and the number of cards distributed so far, Galgali's application has been transferred to the logistics division. Similarly, Galgali's application was transferred to the Finance Department for the expenses incurred for making the card. 

Assistant Director General of Finance Department Syed Ravish Ali made it clear to Galgali that the information sought was not available in the Finance Department. When Anil Galgali check the website, it was found that 124 crore 62 lakh 21 thousand 866 cards have been generated. However, the information of spending amount cost for incurred per card for Aadhar has not available.

According to Anil Galgali, instead of giving the information that could have been given in the figures, the Unique Identification Authority of India is avoiding it by giving misleading replies. If information is not available at there level, it is silent on where it is available. Anil Galgali wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urge to make the information of this entire matter understandable language to the common people, thus making it public.