Tokavi K Zhimo
Aghunato | March 29
The opening of the first-ever Aadhaar Seva Kendra in Aghunato Subdivision has brought significant relief to local residents who previously had to travel to Zunheboto, incurring high costs for transportation, food, lodging, and service fees.
Before the center's establishment, obtaining Aadhaar services required a long journey to Zunheboto, where residents faced long queues and technical issues, such as link failures, at the district’s single Aadhaar center. This situation posed a financial and logistical burden on many, especially those from remote areas.
The center, operational since February 24, 2025, was initiated by Kahuto S. Yeptho, an Aadhaar operator dedicated to bringing the service closer to the community. In just over a month, Kahuto has enrolled 433 residents, with the center offering a range of services including new enrollments for minors and demographic corrections for adults.
Kahuto, who operates the center single-handedly for now, explained that new enrollments for minors are free of charge, while demographic and biometric updates incur a Rs 50 fee each. The required documents for minors include a date of birth certificate and the parent's birth certificate. For indigenous Nagas, proof of identity such as a Permanent Residential Certificate (PRC), a Scheduled Tribe certificate, and an indigenous certificate are needed.
The center is located in the ADC office, where it follows the government’s working hours and calendar. Kahuto noted that, on average, he handles at least ten clients per day.
The idea of establishing an Aadhaar center in Aghunato had been a long-standing goal for Kahuto, who had been pursuing the project since his graduation in 2021. Despite facing multiple rejections, his persistence paid off, thanks in part to the support of key local officials. He credited Chinglem Konyak, EAC HQ Zunheboto and the Nodal Officer for Aadhaar in the district, as well as ADC Aghunato D. Rubin, NCS, and EAC Aghunato Kathinla, for their help in forwarding his application to the authorities.
To set up the center, Kahuto personally financed the purchase of most of the necessary Aadhaar equipment, amounting to approximately Rs 1.8 lakh, excluding biometric devices provided by the government. He also received technical guidance from a friend in Haryana who is an Aadhaar operator, which helped him navigate the setup process.
Residents have welcomed the center’s opening, expressing relief at no longer needing to travel to Zunheboto. Shevito DB highlighted the positive impact the center has had on the community, highlighting how difficult it had been for people to access the service before. He also thanked the local officials for their support in establishing the Aadhaar center in Aghunato.
