UP govt to deploy high-tech surveillance to prevent infiltrators from availing Aadhaar, subsidised ration

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath

The Uttar Pradesh government has drawn up a comprehensive high-tech strategy to ensure that infiltrators are blocked from gaining access to welfare schemes and essential public services. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed senior officials to strengthen verification systems using advanced biometric technology and to intensify drives to detect illegal migrants living with forged documents.

Authorities said the plan will create a digital security grid aimed at preventing infiltrators from obtaining Aadhaar cards, subsidised ration, housing benefits or any other public welfare support meant exclusively for genuine residents of Uttar Pradesh. The government also intends to dismantle organised rackets that help outsiders secure fake identity papers and citizenship records.

Yogi has chaired multiple high-level meetings over the past week, stating that Uttar Pradesh’s resources belong first to its legitimate citizens. He has emphasised that those who have entered the state illegally and exploited welfare benefits must be removed without delay.

As part of the plan, the state is setting up high-security detention centres to house individuals identified as infiltrators. The centres will have layered surveillance, round-the-clock monitoring and authorised personnel overseeing all movement. According to officials, the security protocols will make any attempt to escape almost impossible.

Advanced forensic tools will be deployed to identify forged documents and trace background details including the duration of stay and networks used to facilitate their entry. Mandatory biometric records will be created for each detainee, including facial scans and fingerprint data, which will be stored in a centralised nationwide database. Names recorded in this negative list will be permanently restricted from accessing any state or central welfare scheme in future.

The government has described the initiative as a “surgical strike” against infiltrators, forming a key pillar of its Zero Tolerance policy toward illegal migration. Officials believe the crackdown will not only strengthen internal security but also make welfare distribution more transparent by ensuring only deserving beneficiaries are served.

Authorities also expect the move to curb crimes linked to fake identities. Illegal migrants are often involved in activities such as smuggling, fraud and trafficking, particularly in border districts, officials said. A reduction in such crimes would improve the overall safety environment and boost public trust in law enforcement.

Beyond security implications, the government anticipates an economic impact. The identification of illegal workers is expected to create more job opportunities for local youth by eliminating unfair competition from those working outside the legal frameworks. Officials project improvements in service delivery including faster processing of passports, licenses and other official documents once fraudulent entries are removed from the system.

Opposition parties have reacted sharply, accusing the government of using the issue of infiltrators to polarise voters and of trying to create fear among minority communities. Leaders in the Samajwadi Party and Congress argued that such campaigns could lead to harassment of poor migrants who lack proper paperwork but have lived in the state for decades.

Samajwadi Party senior leader Rajendra Chaudhry said that there should be safeguards to ensure that legitimate citizens are not wrongly detained or denied welfare support. “Government should share clear data on the number of infiltrators identified so far and the legal framework under which detention centres are being established,” he said.

Some human rights activists raised concerns over the proposed digital profiling, saying that any misuse of biometric data could have long-term implications on privacy and civil rights. They urged the government to ensure transparency and prevent misuse of the initiative for political gains.

Responding to criticism, senior officials asserted that the focus remains on individuals who have entered the state illegally and are draining public resources while engaging in document fraud. They said that measures are being designed to ensure that no innocent person is wrongly targeted.

Officials added that the system would be rolled out only after inter-agency coordination, legal vetting and formal approval of security and monitoring protocols at all detention facilities.

The administration maintains that the crackdown is essential to protect the rights of legitimate residents and safeguard taxpayers’ money. The government believes that a more efficient, corruption-free welfare structure will reinforce Uttar Pradesh’s growth trajectory and strengthen its internal security environment.