What does the new Aadhaar mascot 'Udai' mean for public communication?
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Key Takeaways
New Delhi, Jan 8 (NationPress) – The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has introduced a new mascot named ‘Udai’ on Thursday, designed to serve as a “resident-facing communication companion” aimed at enhancing the public's comprehension of Aadhaar services.
The Ministry of Electronics and IT stated that the Aadhaar mascot will play a pivotal role in making information related to Aadhaar more accessible and user-friendly.
Bhuvnesh Kumar, CEO of UIDAI, emphasized that by conducting an open national competition to design and name this mascot, UIDAI reinforced a fundamental principle of Aadhaar: community participation fosters trust and acceptance. The remarkable response indicated the strong connection people feel towards Aadhaar as a public asset.
‘Udai’ is set to streamline communication regarding various Aadhaar services, including updates, authentication, offline verification, selective information sharing, new technology integration, and responsible usage, among other aspects.
To realize this vision, UIDAI opted for an inclusive approach, launching national design and naming competitions through the MyGov platform.
UIDAI received an impressive 875 submissions from across the nation, featuring contributions from students, professionals, and designers, each presenting a unique perspective on the significance of Aadhaar.
A rigorous multi-tier evaluation process was implemented to ensure transparency and thoroughness in selecting the winning designs. The outcome is a remarkable creation that reflects public imagination and has been refined through institutional diligence, according to the ministry.
The first prize in the mascot design competition was awarded to Arun Gokul from Thrissur, Kerala, while Idris Dawaiwala from Pune, Maharashtra, and Krishna Sharma from Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, secured the second and third prizes, respectively.
In the naming competition, Riya Jain from Bhopal took home the first prize, followed by Idris Dawaiwala and Maharaj Saran Chellapilla from Hyderabad in second and third places.
Neelkanth Mishra, Chairman of UIDAI, unveiled the mascot and honored the winners during a UIDAI event in Thiruvananthapuram.
The launch of the mascot represents another significant step in UIDAI’s commitment to making Aadhaar communication more straightforward, inclusive, and relatable for over a billion residents of India, as stated by UIDAI Chairman Mishra.