Bhatkal: The government's Gruha Lakshmi scheme has received a tremendous response from the public in Bhatkal. However, due to the requirement of matching the mobile number with the Aadhaar card number during the application process, a large number of applicants have been seeking Aadhaar corrections at the Bhatkal post office. This surge in demand has resulted in challenges in processing applications, leading to delays for eligible beneficiaries.

Aadhaar Center at Post Office:
Over the past 4-5 months, the Aadhaar service model in Bhatkal has undergone changes. Currently, the majority of Aadhaar card-related work is handled at the Bhatkal Post Office, while the Nemmadi Kendra focuses on receiving applications in the morning hours. The post office is the only center where Aadhar card linking with the mobile number is done.

Token System Implemented:
To manage the increasing demand and to streamline the Aadhaar card application process, the Bhatkal post office has introduced a token system. People now need to obtain a token before coming to the post office for Aadhaar card corrections, and the demand for the token is so high that they have already distributed the token until August 12. Additionally, technical difficulties, such as server issues, have further complicated the Aadhaar card processing.

Challenges Faced by Beneficiaries:
With only one post office catering to the entire Bhatkal taluk population of more than one lakh, hundreds of people are forced to stand in line outside the post office daily. This situation is especially concerning during the rainy season. Moreover, the delay in processing Aadhaar card applications has become a headache for thousands of women in Bhatkal who are eligible to benefit from the Gruha Lakshmi scheme.

Multiple Steps for Aadhaar Linking:
The issues related to Aadhaar cards do not end with linking them to mobile numbers. After this step, the applicants must also link their Aadhaar cards to their bank accounts, requiring them to stand in separate queues at the banks.

Many people are expressing concern and drawing the attention of the administration to a puzzling matter. If banks require an Aadhaar card for opening bank accounts, why is there a need to link the Aadhaar card with the account again separately? They question why the government does not address this issue with the bankers directly. After all, individuals provide their Aadhaar card details while opening the account, so why should they go through the hassle of applying for the linking separately at the bank? This process wastes people's time and creates unnecessary inconvenience.

The administration should take notice of this redundant procedure and work towards a streamlined approach to Aadhaar linking with bank accounts. Simplifying this process will save both the banks and the account holders valuable time and effort.

It should be noted that the Gruha Lakshmi scheme is available to all women who serve as the heads of their households in Karnataka. The government says that eligible beneficiaries will receive a monthly financial assistance of Rs. 2,000, which will be directly transferred to their bank accounts through the DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) mode. However, to achieve the seamless implementation of this scheme, the government needs to focus on removing the inconveniences faced by applicants. People suggest that instead of handling this work in only one center, the post office in Bhatkal, there is a need to open centers in different areas and gram panchayats, where the facility of linking Aadhaar card with the mobile number or making necessary changes in Aadhaar card can be easily accessed by the beneficiaries.