Confusion Reigns in Kotia: Odisha and Andhra Pradesh Clash Over Aadhaar KYC Updates

Border Dispute Fuels Administrative Confusion

Residents in the border villages of Pottangi block, located in Odisha's Koraput district, are experiencing significant confusion due to overlapping administrative actions from both Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. On March 31, officials from Andhra Pradesh visited Kotia panchayat to facilitate Aadhaar KYC updates, gathering residents in areas where network connectivity was available.

This initiative sparked tensions between the Odisha government, Koraput district officials, and the Pottangi block administration. Just 18 days later, on April 17, the Pottangi block administration launched its own Aadhaar KYC process in several villages within Kotia panchayat. The simultaneous KYC efforts have left villagers perplexed about the need to undergo Aadhaar verification twice.

According to sources, Pottangi block officials conducted Aadhaar updates for women in front of the primary school in Fatusineri. Similarly, women in Phagunsineri and Uparsembi were seen updating their KYC at Anganwadi centers, holding their Aadhaar cards.

During the KYC drive organized by Andhra Pradesh, participation included men, women, and children. In contrast, the current initiative by Odisha is exclusively focused on women, further complicating the situation for residents.

The Odisha-led KYC program is set to run from Thursday to Saturday. Border villagers are questioning whether this initiative is associated with the Subhadra Scheme or other government programs. On the first day alone, 324 KYC updates were successfully completed.

When reached for comment, Pottangi Block Development Officer Ramakrishna Nayak confirmed that the Aadhaar KYC for 618 women, who had previously benefited from the Subhadra Scheme, is being updated. He noted that additional programs would be organized based on instructions from higher authorities, emphasizing that only women's KYC is currently being processed.

It is important to highlight that the Kotia region consists of 21 villages claimed by both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, resulting in administrative overlaps and jurisdictional disputes.

PNN