Postal Index Number Code popularly referred to as pincode, was originally conceived to facilitate the prompt delivery of postal items such as parcels, letters, money orders, and other items intended for dispatch through post offices. In India, the Postal Department introduced pincodes effective from 15 August 1972. Each post office and sub post office across the nation was assigned a unique 6-digit code relevant to the geographical location of an area. With the emergence of the information revolution, this code became increasingly significant for registration in public service schemes and online facilities such as Aadhar cards, Election cards, Ration data, in addition to the address certificates of individuals. My hometown, Kreeri, is located in District Baramulla, historically known as “Kruhin Kreeri.” It has served as a center for political, religious, trade, and cultural affairs in the region since the arrival of حضرت سید حاجی محمد مراد بخاری رحمت الله علیه in the middle of the 9th century Hijri, corresponding to the 15th century AD. The patron saint resided in Kreeri until the 17th of Zulhajh 861 Hijri, which corresponds to 4th November 1457 AD. During his lifetime, a khanqah (center of worship and learning) was established, producing hundreds of scholars in religious knowledge, as well as in art, culture, poetry, and calligraphy. It remained the focal point of social activities for centuries. When Sultan Zainul Abideen, Badshah, visited Kreeri to pay his respects to the patron saint, he declared that Juma prayers would henceforth be conducted in Kreeri. At that time, only a few locations outside Srinagar city had the privilege of holding Juma prayers. Following the political realignments in Kashmir post-Independence, our town experienced ongoing discrimination in developmental matters and government neglect, partly due to our elders, who were educated and politically aware, being unable to align with the political powers of the era, and partly due to a lack of representation in the state legislature for an extended period. Some institutions, such as the JK Bank branch established in 1976, the Primary Health Centre founded in 1969, and the Government in1960 were sanctioned by the authorities as result of personal & persistent efforts of civil society of Kreeri. In 1977, a group of concerned citizens took on the responsibility of reaffirming the political identity of the Kreeri area. That year, a new delimitation of assembly segments in Jammu and Kashmir was being conducted, and we successfully advocated for the creation of a new segment, “Sangrama,” in the Baramulla district. Although this was not the ideal situation we had envisioned for the Kreeri area, it marked the first time in 30 years of independence that we were able to politically assert ourselves without being tied to the Baramulla, Pattan, or Sopore assembly segments as had been the case previously. Many witnesses to this historical event are still alive today to recount the story for future generations. One thing remains clear: our civil society continues to be active, responsive, and engaged with the social issues facing our area as they arise. The Tehsil headquarters in Kreeri was sanctioned in 2006 but only began functioning from Kreeri in 2013, largely due to the unnecessary and self-serving division created between the towns of Kreeri and Wagoora. In 2010, the Government of India launched a scheme for the registration of its citizens, commonly known as Aadhar. To facilitate this, an autonomous body called the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) was established. This database included various parameters, such as biometrics, date of birth, residential address, cell number, and an area pin code based on the records of India Post. Kreeri has had a sub post office since 1980, and its area pin code is 193108 according to India Post records. Unfortunately, it was incorrectly recorded as 193198 in the UIDAI (Aadhar) database for reasons unknown. For many years, no one paid attention to it, and some even began using this incorrect pincode in their addresses, social media profiles, and business signage, resulting in significant confusion.
“The update is effective from July 31, 2025. A significant grievance has been addressed. It’s our responsibility to correct all instances where the pincode is needed, especially on voter ID cards, and update Aadhar cards. I urge Kreeri’s youth to advocate for social issues persistently. Success will come with just demands and sincere efforts.”
When the UIDAI mandated the updating of Aadhar Cards in 2023, individuals encountered difficulties not only in making updates but also in accessing various online services provided by government departments. As the situation worsened and local news outlets and social media began to highlight the public’s struggles with updating Aadhar Cards, Driving Licenses, and other identity documents associated with government flagship schemes, I resolved to address the issue, as no political or civil society group had shown any interest in alleviating this challenge, despite widespread public concern. I visited the Tehsildar’s office in Kreeri, which oversees the Aadhar center in the area. Mr. Mubashir Amin, KAS, the then Tehsildar of Kreeri, known for his academic and social awareness, kindly took the matter up with the Deputy Commissioner of Baramulla. He also pursued it within the DC office, ultimately leading to a letter being sent from the DC office to the state coordinator of Aadhar, requesting the correction of the pincode in the UIDAI database. For an entire year, there was no progress. Eventually, I filed a grievance with the LG’s grievance cell. After six months, I was informed that the Assistant Post Master General of the J&K circle had contacted UIDAI regarding the correction. Three months passed without any advancement. I then reached out to the Post Master General of India, who informed me that UIDAI had been instructed to take action. The wait continued. I took to my X handle and lodged a complaint with UIDAI (Aadhar). They responded and requested relevant documents, which I uploaded on their X handle. I also brought the issue to the attention of Dr. Jatinder Singh, MoS in the PM’s office, under whose purview UIDAI falls. Finally, on July 9, 2025, the UIDAI Chandigarh Regional office launched a three-day awareness program at SKICC, which was to be inaugurated by the LG. I seized the opportunity and engaged in discussions with the UIDAI authorities present. By that time, my previous correspondence, along with the records from India Post, had reached them. They assured me that the database would be updated with the correct pincode for the Kreeri area, 193108, within a couple of weeks. I maintained communication with Mr. Sohail from the Srinagar UIDAI outsourced office, who was consistently cordial. Our Aadhar center chief, Mr. Jaleel, was kept informed from the outset of my efforts and would update me on the latest developments regarding the matter. I am also grateful to our local social media and news groups, which played a significant role in keeping the issue alive by periodically highlighting this public grievance. The update has now been implemented effective from July 31, 2025, as 193108. A significant difficulty/grievance has been addressed. It is now our responsibility to make corrections in all instances where the pincode is required or recorded, particularly on voter ID cards, in addition to refreshing the updates on Aadhar cards. I encourage the youth of the Kreeri area to persistently advocate for social issues. It may take time, but when our demands are just and our efforts sincere, success will follow. I pray to Allah that He has finally heard us and that our problem has been resolved, for ultimately, it is He who understands how events unfold in this world and the timing set for them….
(The author is a retired officer of Jammu & Kashmir Police Services. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
S G M Andrabi
