SHILLONG, JUN 16: The Federation of Khasi, Jaintia & Garo People (FKJGP) Central Body has urged the Meghalaya Health Department to stop denying or delaying essential medical services to children due to non-availability of Aadhaar, saying the requirement is causing “grave inconvenience and distress” for rural families during emergencies.
In a letter to the CEO, State Nodal Agency-Meghalaya Health Insurance Scheme, FKJGP President Dundee Cliff Khongsit said parents in rural areas are “often forced to produce Aadhaar cards for their minor children to avail of medical services under the MHIS Scheme, admissions, documentation, or emergency-related assistance”.
“It has come to the notice of the FKJGP that in several hospitals and healthcare related service points, parents are often forced to produce Aadhaar cards for their minor children,” the letter stated. The federation noted that many rural families are yet to register their children “due to circumstances beyond their control”.
Citing the Supreme Court, FKJGP reminded that “Aadhaar is not mandatory for availing of essential services, especially where denial of the same may adversely affect the fundamental rights and welfare of citizens”.
Despite this, the body said “many rural citizens continue to face unnecessary difficulties and delays” even when parents are valid Aadhaar holders.
“Such practices unfairly target the economically weaker sections and rural populations who already face challenges relating to accessibility and infrastructure,” Khongsit wrote.
The federation flagged multiple issues with enrolment infrastructure at block level: “Many registration counters function extremely slowly with long waiting periods. Several centre’s remain non-functional for days due to technical failures, connectivity issues, or shortage of operators.”
It added that “rural citizens are often compelled to travel long distances multiple times without assurance of successful enrolment” and “parents with infants and young children face immense physical and financial hardship due to repeated visits”.
FKJGP also warned of life-threatening consequences: “In emergency medical situations, delays arising from Aadhaar-related demands may potentially endanger lives,” and noted problems like “emergency admission during late hours where the MHIS counter is close mostly the patients could get claims for emergency test”.
The body requested the Health Department to “issue clear instructions to all healthcare institutions and departments that essential medical services must not be denied or delayed due to non-availability of Aadhaar for minor children” and to “ensure that alternative forms of identification or parent Aadhaar details are accepted wherever necessary”.
It further urged the government to “strengthen and streamline Aadhaar enrolment facilities in rural and block-level areas”, “increase the number of operational enrolment centre’s and technical staff”, and “monitor and improve the accountability and functioning of existing registration counters”.
“We seek your early intervention in this matter and earnestly hope that necessary corrective measures will be taken at the earliest to alleviate the suffering and inconvenience currently being faced by countless families,” the letter concluded.
By Our Reporter
