Centre to focus on Aadhaar implementation, other key progs in UTs

Shifting the focus to Union Territories (UTs) for the implementation of the Aadhaar programme and the direct benefit transfer, the cabinet secretariat has sought a detailed report from them on benefits and savings accrued to them for using Aadhaar.

Acting on it, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in a separate communication, asked the UTs — which the Centre feels can become torch bearers of the national development agenda — to furnish the report at the earliest.

The move followed a meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June on Aadhaar and DBT, where it was decided that the MHA will focus on UTs to ensure the implementation of the points discussed.

This includes encouraging states to pass specific laws for authorising the use of Aadhaar for its welfare schemes and services, developing mechanisms for the use of Aadhaar for criminal investigation and prisoner management, and putting a framework for exchange of data between ministries, and 100 per cent Aadhaar seeding in selected services and schemes by March next year.

Publicising the benefits of Aadhaar, periodic awareness generation on Aadhaar among various stakeholders and assessment of benefits and savings in welfare schemes due to Aadhaar, were some of the other points discussed in …read more