Express News Service
Posted: Dec 09, 2011 at 0121 hrs IST
New Delhi Even as the Nandan Nilekani-led UIDAI grapples with the inter-ministerial tussle over its ambitious unique identity project, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi today pinned his hopes on Aadhar (unique identity number) to resolve the delivery challenges highlighted by his father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
At a gathering of people from Bundelkhand here today, Rahul said his father had voiced concern regarding only 15 paise reaching the intended beneficiaries from Rs one doled out from the Centre. He told the gathering, many of whom recounted tales of funds under the Bundelkhand package not reaching them, that UIDAI will resolve this as it would facilitate funds to reach directly to them.
"Growth is generating resources. The challenge is how to deliver it to you. My father Rajiv Gandhiji had once remarked that barely 15 paise reach you from Rs one sent from Delhi. The one thing that needs urgent change is this (delivery mechanism). How to ensure that you get the entire Rs one earmarked to you," Rahul told the gathering after listening to aggrieved persons who told him about the alleged fraud in disbursement of funds under the Bundelkhand package and other scheme like NREGS.
In this context, Rahul asked whether they had heard about UID or Aadhar and went on to highlight how the government was rolling out Aadhar to resolve this concern of ordinary dole seekers.
"Have you all heard about UID?" Rahul asked the gathering, which feebly responded about Aadhar but could not connect with UID. With Aadhar evoking some response from the gathering, Rahul sought to explain them how it will subsume multiplicity of identity cards -- BPL card, ration card, job cards among others -- into a single card that will facilitate direct dole transfer to them.
With Minister of State for Rural Development Pradeep Jain highlighting the alleged apathy of state governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in the region, Rahul assured the people that he would continue to push for the welfare of the people from the region.
19 meetings lined up for Rahul
Lucknow: Rahul Gandhi will address as many as 19 public meetings during his five-day mass contact programme of western and central UP, beginning on December 13, according to the details released by his office.
Three of these public meetings will be held in reserved assembly, namely Bisauli in Badaun, Kayamganj in Farrukhabad and Kannauj in Kannauj district.
The Congress general secretary will start his campaign from Barbala constituency in the newly formed Bhim Nagar district and conclude with a rally in Akbarpur Kanpur Dehat on December 17.
He will make night stays in Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Farrukhabad and Kannuj and would also touch one assembly constituency in Auraiya district.
Unlike last time, there will be no district workers’ meetings in this tour. The Congress leader will address a maximum of six meetings in Badaun districts at Sahaswan, Bilsi, Bisauli, Badaun, Khadar Chowk and Dataganj.