LEH: Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Dr Pawan Kotwal, chaired a review meeting of the UID Implementation Committee (UIDIC) at the Civil Secretariat in Leh to assess the Aadhaar penetration and usage progress in Ladakh on Monday.
Assistant Manager, UIDAI Ladakh, Mohamad Taief, presented the status report, highlighting achievements and challenges, particularly the enrolment of children aged 0-5 years.
His presentation covered key areas including the functioning of Aadhaar Centers, department-wise Aadhaar penetration, use of Aadhaar in welfare schemes, status of enrolment kits, mandatory biometric updates, and resolution of Aadhaar-school record mismatches.
It was informed that as of 2025, UT Ladakh had achieved an Aadhaar generation rate of 87.06%, with 19,615 Mandatory Biometric Updates still pending. Chief Secretary directed department of education to organize MBU camps in schools
Specific attention was drawn to under-covered blocks such as Thiksey, Rong, Nimmo, Saspol, and Tupsho.
Reviewing the progress, Chief Secretary Dr. Kotwal emphasized the immediate repair and functionality of non-operational Aadhaar enrolment kits.
He directed officials to prepare a workable roadmap for covering the left-out population, particularly focusing on mandatory biometric updates.
Bhawna Garg, DG UIDAI RO Chandigarh, highlighted the importance of digital verifiable certificates, noting that QR code-based, digitally signed Documents will enhance Aadhaar updation and enrolment process.
Additionally, the Chief Secretary of UT Ladakh, Dr. Pawan Kotwal directed the concerned officials ensure fixed locations like SDM and DC offices with the availability of Aadhaar operators, aimed to complete Aadhaar penetration process in the entire UT Ladakh.
The meeting was attended by the DG, UIDAI, RO Chandigarh, Administrative Secretary of Medical and Health education of UT Ladakh; Administrative Secretary Information Technology Department of UT Ladakh; Administrative Secretary of Agricultural department of UT Ladakh; Administrative Secretary of School Education Department of UT Ladakh; Administrative Secretary of General Administration Department of UT Ladakh; District Magistrate Leh; Director of Health Services UT Ladakh, Director UIDAI, Deputy Director UIDAI and other concerned officials.
District Magistrate Kargil, and other concerned officials joined the meeting virtually.
