Fri Mar 28 02:14:21 UTC 2025: ## Thousands of Tribal Children in Andhra Pradesh Lack Birth Certificates, Hindering Access to Government Services

**JANNARAM (A.P.-Chhattisgarh Border), March 28, 2025** – Thousands of tribal children in Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district lack birth certificates and Aadhaar cards, severely limiting their access to essential government services and welfare schemes. This critical issue, highlighted by The Hindu, affects predominantly internally displaced people (IDPs) and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) residing in remote, hard-to-reach settlements.

The problem is particularly acute in the Chintoor Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), where a significant portion of the 7,868 children aged 0-6 lack Aadhaar, with over 1,200 lacking birth certificates. This prevents them from enrolling in schools like Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV), crucial for quality education. The lack of documentation also excludes them from Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes and healthcare services.

The geographical challenges exacerbate the situation. Settlements like Jaggaram, home to 46 Muria families who fled Naxal-affected Chhattisgarh two decades ago, are located deep within dense forests, inaccessible by vehicles. Births often occur at home, resulting in a lack of official birth registration. The arduous journey to government offices for documentation deters many families, as illustrated by Vetti Peesamma, who gave up her attempts to obtain a birth certificate for her daughter after multiple failed visits.

The absence of an Aadhaar enrolment operator for several days further hampered the process. The official’s unavailability, coupled with the disruption of mobile and internet connectivity during security force operations, severely impacted the already limited access to Aadhaar registration.

Activists are urging the authorities to address the issue by establishing mobile Aadhaar centres and assigning women and child development officials and ASHA workers to assist families in obtaining birth certificates. The government has recently eased regulations for birth certificate issuance for children under one year old, but the process remains a significant hurdle for families living in remote areas. The lack of awareness about the importance of birth registration among tribal communities also plays a significant role in this ongoing crisis. The report concludes with a call for immediate action to rectify this systemic failure that is impacting the lives of thousands of vulnerable children.

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