Karimnagar: Twenty-three-year-old Ubidi Rekha, who is in the final stage of her pregnancy, has spent weeks moving from one hospital to another in Karimnagar, hoping to find a safe place to deliver her baby. Instead of medical support, she says she has repeatedly faced one question: where is your Aadhaar?
Rekha’s struggle has brought attention to a harsh reality for many families from nomadic and undocumented communities in Telangana, where missing identity documents can become a barrier even during pregnancy.
Rekha belongs to the Beda Budaga Jangam nomadic community. As her delivery date comes closer, she has visited multiple government hospitals for admission. Each time, she says hospital staff asked for her Aadhaar card and refused to admit her when she could not provide it.
Among the hospitals she approached was the Karimnagar Mother and Child Hospital, but her attempts ended without a confirmed admission.
Her family says they cannot afford private hospitals, leaving them with no choice but to depend on government healthcare facilities. But without Aadhaar, Rekha’s search for care has turned into a painful cycle of referrals and rejection.
At one point, Rekha questioned the situation in despair, asking if a woman without Aadhaar is not allowed to become a mother.
Dr G Veera Reddy, Superintendent of the District General Hospital, said hospitals do not deny treatment due to Aadhaar issues. He explained that Aadhaar is used for identification and that patients without Aadhaar can be registered as “unknown persons.”
He also said such cases are recorded with the local police, and people facing problems should report the matter to his office.
However, Rekha’s family maintains that the reality on the ground feels very different, as she continues to remain without a clear hospital option despite repeated visits.
Local Political leader Sugurthi Jagadeeshwara Chary tried to help Rekha by arranging a residence certificate from the gram panchayat to support her Aadhaar application. But the process reportedly stalled due to technical issues on the Aadhaar portal, leaving the family stuck again.
Chary has pointed out that Rekha’s case is not isolated. Many women and children from nomadic and marginalized communities face similar struggles because they lack documentation, even when the need for healthcare is urgent.
(Rh/ARC)