MARGAO: Senior citizens in Margao are being forced to navigate an expensive and convoluted process to correct errors in their Aadhar cards—mistakes many claim were made by data entry staff during registration.
Citizens now face a bill of nearly Rs 2,800 for even minor corrections, such as spelling mistakes. The process involves submitting a legal affidavit and publishing a notice in the official gazette.
On Friday, a group of disgruntled citizens queuing outside an Aadhar correction centre voiced their anger. “We submitted all valid documents showing the correct name,” said Jeron Colaco of Arlem-Raia, who was assisting an 83-year-old. “But due to an error by the staff, we’re now being told to produce an affidavit costing Rs 700 and pay Rs 2,100 for a gazette notification.”
Colaco described the procedure as a “lootmar” (daylight robbery) and called on the government to intervene. “This places an unfair burden on the elderly, many of whom already face health and mobility issues.”
The situation has raised concerns over the lack of accountability and accessible grievance redressal in the Aadhar correction system. Citizens are demanding urgent reforms to make the process simpler, cheaper, and more transparent, especially for those reliant on Aadhar for essential services.