Aadhaar cards not must for now in Maharashtra: Rane
Sanjeev Shivadekar, TNN | Jul 26, 2013, 02.05 AM IST
MUMBAI: Till every citizen of Maharashtra gets an Aadhaar card, it will not be made a mandatory document to avail of state and central government schemes, industries minister NarayanRane said in the legislative assembly on Thursday.
"Efforts will be expedited by the state administration to ensure that every citizen is armed with an Aadhaar card. This will be done within a stipulated period," the industries minister said during the Question Hour. The issue of non-availability of Aadhaar cards was raised by the Opposition legislators and treasury benches.
Rane's assurance came after Speaker Dilip Walse Patil pointed out that many citizens face hardships as the administration insists on the card to avail of government schemes. "The state must review the issue and ensure that citizens are not made to run from pillar to post in the absence of a card," suggested Walse-Patil.
Aadhaar, the UPA government's flagship programme introduced in 2010, is to serve as a proof of identity and address to receive benefits from various government schemes.
Leader of the opposition Eknath Khadse (BJP) said, "The work of supplying cards is lagging far behind the schedule. Only 10% of citizens have got their cards in the last two years."
He also pulled up the government for linking Aadhaar card with government schemes. "The administration asks citizens to furnish the card to get their wages and other benefits. They can't avail of the government schemes as they don't have the document.
Students, in particular, face hardship as they are asked to furnish the card for admission, grants or scholarship."
Replying to Khadse's charge, Rane said, the government would take a comprehensive view of the issue.
"Appropriate orders will be issued to district collectors to ensure citizens are not inconvenienced." Education minister Rajendra Darda, too, gave a similar assurance that the administration would be "geared up", and citizens will not be made to suffer because they do not possess an Aadhaar card.
According to Mantralaya officials, Aadhaar card is mandatory for teachers to get their salaries and students to claim benefits such as scholarships and uniform. But according to the department officials, of the eight lakh-plus students in the state, only 50% possess Aadhaar card. "The situation is similar for teachers," an official said.