DNA Impact: Days after Shubha Mudgal's FB post, national classical academy does u-turn on Aadhaar as ID

A DNA report had highlighted how national-level music academy Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal (ABGMVM) was insisting on Aadhar/voter ID details for renewal of life membership.

This had led to outrage among the music fratenity, notably classical vocalist Shubha Mudgal who took to Facebook to make her displeasure known when her email on this went unanswered.

The ABGMVM reacted soon after DNA carried the report after reaching out to ABGMVM President Prabhakar Bhandare for a reaction. It has now communicated to Mudgal that it was withdrawing the compulsion to share Aadhar/Voter ID  details  for the life membership renewal. Lauding her long association (Mudgal has been a life member since the 80s) ABGMVM has requested: "We trust this will not change your continuous good feelings, love, trust  and cooperation for the Mandal from so many years and look forward to it," says the letter in Hindi.

Mudgal has responded thanking the ABGMVM for its letter

Earlier, Mudgal took to social media to question this given that the apex court has made Aadhar non-mandatory, even allowing citizens to file income tax returns without their Aadhar details. Pointing out how she, like thousands of musicians in India, is a life member of ABGMVM, she reminisced how she became a life member in the 80s, because of which she regularly received a copy of Sangeet Kala Vihar, a monthly magazine published by the ABGMVM. “A few days ago, I received a letter from the Deputy Registrar of the Mandal (sent by Speed Post) informing me that despite repeated reminders (which I had not received), and insertions in Sangeet Kala Vihar about the project (which I admit to having failed to notice) I had not provided my profile and address details for an identity card which the Mandal has decided to issue to all life members,” she says and adds, “The letter warned that if I did not provide the details before August 25, 2018, I would stop receiving my copy of Sangeet Kala Vihar and could even lose my membership of the Mandal. A form attached with the letter asks for my name, phone, address etc, two passport size photographs, and a true copy of my Aadhaar card or Voter ID!”

Drawing parallels with other organisations like the India International Centre of which she is also a member, she points out how they issue membership cards, without ask for details like Aadhaar. “Members are also encouraged to update their contact details electronically if they wish to receive notifications. But the Mandal’s unwarranted request for Aadhar and Voter ID details is clearly a violation of the right to privacy. It must be opposed.”