SATURDAY, 07 JANUARY 2012 00:01 PNS | RANCHI HITS: 381
Calling India as the first country of the world that has undertaken task to generate 20 crore of biometric identification number through Aadhaar, Director General of Unique Identification Authority of India RS Sharma said that Jharkhand is the first state of the country which has started successful drive of financial inclusion through Aadhaar number.
Addressing a Press conference on Friday, Sharma displayed a mobile and micro ATM gadget which is about to bring revolution in the financial inclusion. "We are running a pilot project in three districts of Jharkhand and have successfully tested this gadget for online payment of NREGA wages, BPL and others. Initially, we collaborated with three banks which will appoint business correspondents," said Sharma.
Anyone with a bank account patched with Aadhaar can now withdraw money up to a limit of Rs 20,000, by using this gadget. The gadget is fitted with a SIM card and soon gets connected to the server of the UID and concerned bank for authentication of the finger print, other details and availability of amount in the said account. The gadget after identification generates a receipt upon which the business correspondent pays said amount. The whole process takes not more than 10 seconds to complete.
Business correspondent gets two per cent as service charge. Inter-account transfer of the funds can be made through this.
"It will be helpful for people living in village area where there is no banking facility," Sharma said. Referring to a recent study held in Madhya Pradesh he said that often people working as NREGA labourer and others are forced to spend around Rs 125 to withdraw Rs 525. "They often travel 20 km and more to visit a nearby bank to withdraw the money. It costs them their day's wage on traveling and expenses. Sometimes they fall prey to some tout. But after the introduction of this system things will be easy. We are proud to launch this in Jharkhand; first of its kind in the country," Sharma said.
Praising State Government for support to massive enrollment drive in Jharkhand, he said that the State Government is likely to make old age pension, scholarship payments and others through this micro ATM facility. Currently, four blocks of three districts of Jharkhand-Ranchi, Hazaribagh and Saraikela have been selected for this pilot programme. Asked about overall enrolment of population in the country and Jharkhand so far, he said that a total of 10 crore people in the country and 85 per cent of Jharkhand population has been brought under Aadhaar. He cleared few misgivings about Aadhaar number, often confused and considered as certification of citizenship or a document that can be used to open bank account and others.
Sharma also cleared two critical concerns dogging the project since Parliament has yet not enacted a law to give legal status to UIAI and Aadhaar.
"There is no legal hurdle. We have responded to the query made by the Standing Committee of the Parliament which is scrutinising the law," he said.
Recently Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had raised concerns that Aadhaar could be vulnerable to hacking and misuse. Neither agreeing nor disputing the concern of the Home Minister he said: "We are alert. We have made elaborate arrangements to ensure that our databank remains secured.