II. UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION AUTHORITY OF INDIA (UIDAI)
2.1 This Scheme is a Planning Commission initiative which envisages assigning
a unique identification number to each resident in the country for better monitoring
and targeting of government‘s social welfare schemes and poverty alleviation
initiatives. It also aims at eliminating the need for multiple identification mechanisms
prevalent across various government departments.
2.2 A provision of Rs. 2,620 crore has been allocated in BE (2013-14) for Unique
Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and a major part of the budget provision for
Rs. 1,040 crore is earmarked for ‗Enrolment Authentication and Updation‘, out of
which an amount of Rs. 1,000 crore has been earmarked under the head ―other
charges‖.
2.3 The Committee in their 42
nd Report (15th Lok Sabha) on the 'National
Identification Authority of India Bill 2010' had inter-alia given their observations on
number of issues and urged the Government to reconsider and review the UID
Scheme and also the proposals contained in the Bill with all its ramifications and
bring forth a fresh legislation before Parliament.
2.4 The Committee in their 53rd report (15th Lok Sabha) expressed their concern
as to how the Government was still continuing with the implementation of Aadhar
without the legislative approval and had allocated Rs. 1,758 crore for the Scheme for
the year 2012-13. The Committee, therefore, urged the Government to urgently
address the issues identified/pointed out by the Committee in their report.
2.5 The Committee in their 62nd report (15th Lok Sabha) reiterated their earlier
recommendation and desired that the Government should urgently address the
various shortcomings/issues pointed out by the Committee in their earlier report and
bring forth a fresh legislation before Parliament.
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UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION AUTHORITY OF INDIA (UIDAI)
5. The Committee in their earlier reports had urged the Government to
reconsider and review the UID Scheme and also the proposals contained in
'National Identification Authority of India Bill 2010' with all its ramifications and
bring forth a fresh legislation before Parliament. The Committee note that
although 15 months have lapsed after presentation of its report on UIDAI, the
Government have not yet brought any fresh legislation before the Parliament.
The Committee are concerned to note that during the last three financial years
(upto January, 2013), a huge sum of Rs. 2342 crore has been spent on the
Scheme and Rs. 2620 crore has been allocated in BE 2013-14, out of which 25
Rs. 1040 crore is earmarked for „„Enrolment Authentication and Updation‟
pending legislative sanction of the Scheme. The Committee strongly feel that
in the absence of legislation, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is
discharging its functions without any legal basis. The Committee, therefore,
insist the Government address the various shortcomings/issues pointed out in
their earlier reports and bring forth a fresh legislation at the latest in the next
session of Parliament. The Committee would also like to know the number of
aadhar cards issued during the last three years vis-à-vis target set therefor
along with the number, nature and redressal mechanism of complaints and
punishment awarded in the matter of issue of cards. The Committee would
further like to be apprised about the cost per card incurred by the
Government.