4942 - EC wants citizens' 'senstive data' off states' portals - Business Standard

EC wants citizens' 'senstive data' off states' portals

Meanwhile, EC working on creating a national database of electoral rolls to create common standards

The Election Commission of India (EC) has instructed states such as Uttarakhand to get rid of citizen information such as photographs of voters from their portals, to prevent possible violation of citizen privacy.

The chief electoral officer’s (CEO) department in the state has complied.

In a two-part series published on Monday and Tuesday, this newspaper noted several states and central departments might be, unwittingly, following a bare-it-all approach in posting citizen data online, such as bank account details and income status, to push the government’s agenda on greater transparency and accountability. As the electoral roll is a public document, websites of places such as Delhi had an easy search feature without any security layer that could possibly lead to instances of profiling of a particular community, category or section of society. The stories are available at mybs.in/248eb (Your private data may be online, courtesy govt) and mybs.in/2efe4 (Saving privacy as we knew it).

Experts say criminals can combine public databases to create profiles of citizens, which could lead to invasion of privacy and financial fraud.

Along with other details such as voter identity number and address, some states had also posted pictures of voters.

Deputy Election Commissioner Alok Shukla had earlier told Business Standard states were not allowed to put photographs of voters online, to ensure their privacy was safeguarded. “These will be removed if such cases are found.” On the report’s publication, he said instructions had been given to the CEO of Uttarakhand.

The Chief Election Office of Uttarakhand in a written reply told Business Standard that it will "get an enquiry done" on the matter.

Meanwhile, the EC is working towards creating a national database of the voter lists of all states, with the objective of creating common standards. Though the state data will be in the state servers, it will seamlessly interact with other databases over the cloud, Shukla said. He added this’d enable voters to access various services over a centralised portal. More, it will prompt all states to follow a common protocol while handling electoral rolls in the digital format.

“EC will benefit by way of better management of rolls, as we will be able to check for fakes and duplicates across states and also gain by putting in place some data analysis tools.” The proposal is waiting for  approval from the ministry of communications and information technology, he added.

4941 - Govt to decide Aadhaar alternatives post SC ordern - Deccan herald

Govt to decide Aadhaar alternatives post SC order

Annapurna Singh, New Delhi, Oct 28, 2013, DHNS:

If the Supreme Court rules that the unique identification card cannot be made mandatory to avail government services, the Centre may ask for ration cards or voter identity cards as an alternative.

The Petroleum Ministry is mulling over the use of other substitutes such as ration card, voter ID card or driving licence to provide cash subsidy to LPG beneficiaries, but it is still unsure about ways to make them authentic.

“There are several other documents, and ration card may be one,” a senior government official told Deccan Herald but expressed concerns that no other document “can provide the foolproof authenticity” as Aadhaar.

“In case of other documents we will have to find some other supporting document to ascertain cent percent authenticity,” he said.

The Central government has planned to link the Aadhaar card number to all social sector schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act job card, scholarships, pension ID and others. But currently only LPG is largely linked to Aadhaar.

Aadhaar provides a resident a 12-digit unique number after recording bio metric information like fingerprints and iris. Its authenticity is considered close to perfect. The government has planned to use this unique identification card for its cash transfer scheme for various subsidies to ensure the benefits reach the right person.

The Aadhaar platform, which also seeks to eliminate diversions and plug leakages, is already being used for transfer of LPG subsidy in cash to bank accounts of beneficiaries in 97 districts of the country. The government had planned to extend it to almost 265 districts by January 1, 2014.

Direct cash transfer for LPG began on June 1 in 19 districts. The government gave a three-month grace period to enable consumers to get the Aadhaar card and link it with their bank accounts.

After the expiry of this period, according to the government, cash subsidy may be provided only to consumers who had Aadhaar cards.

But the Supreme Court recently issued an order that Aadhaar could not be made mandatory for people to get government services and nobody should be deprived of facilities for want of the card. It also rejected the review petition filed by the government on this issue.

After the court’s order, Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily had said Aadhaar would not be mandatory for availing LPG subsidy till it was cleared by the Supreme Court or through legislative authorisation. However, in those districts where the three-month grace period has lapsed, the consumers are being charged at the open market rate even for their subsidised LPG refills, the official said.

The Supreme Court will hear the argument in Aadhaar case again on Tuesday.

4940 - Saving privacy as we knew it - Business Standard

Saving privacy as we knew it

Long overdue protection law still on the back-burner; meanwhile, depts put more of one's personal details online

Surabhi Agarwal & Somesh Jha  |  New Delhi  October 29, 2013 Last Updated at 00:49 IST

It was in 2010 when the central government decided to institute a legal framework on privacy. This was in the wake of increasing data collection by both government and corporate agencies. Concerns had mounted in the wake of projects such as the National Population Register, Aadhaar and the National Intelligence Grid.

Over three years and hundreds of consultations later, several drafts of the proposed Bill were written and rejected, and at least two committees have given recommendations. However, the law has not seen the light of day. Meanwhile, citizen data digitisation is moving at a pace like never before in the country.

Business Standard had reported on October 28 about how an investigation revealed that several states and central departments might be, unwittingly, following a bare-it-all approach in posting citizen data online in order to push the government's agenda of greater transparency and accountability. While the Centre's National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme puts out full bank account numbers of its beneficiaries, government website of Uttar Pradesh has put out full details of ration card holders, including annual income along with address and information about members of the family. By putting such sensitive information online, the government could be jeopardising the privacy of its 1.2 billion citizens, who stand exposed to a variety of risks, including those of 360-degree profiling and financial frauds. (INFORMATION DELUGE)

According to government officials, the department of personnel and training has finished compiling the final draft of the privacy legislation, now awaiting approval from the prime minister; the department is under him.

"In the absence of a privacy Bill, the only data protection, pseudo, is through Section 43A of the Information Technology (IT) Act. Unfortunately, that is not a data protection law; it is only a data security provision," said Sunil Abraham, executive director of the Centre for Internet and Society.

Pavan Duggal, a Supreme Court lawyer and cyber security expert, said India needs more security while collecting data and "currently a lot of these websites don't have these security layers". Take for instance, the website of the chief electoral officer of New Delhi. Type a person's first or last name and select the constituency - the website throws up the details of all people with this name, along with all the details such as address and voter identity number. According to officials of the Election Commission, the searchability feature helps in easy access of voter details by people themselves or by interested political parties. "There has been no evidence to prove its use otherwise," an official of the EC told Business Standard.

However, experts said otherwise. Abraham said the electronic version of the electoral roll has a unique identifier, the voter ID number. "And, if there are other databases with the same identifier, a comprehensive profile of a citizen can be created." He added, at the moment, we are saved from 360-degree profiling to some extent, since there is no common identifier.

Once a privacy law comes into being, the government or a private agency will have to adequately inform citizens before collecting data, stating the reasons and only collecting as much information as is necessary for the purpose. It will also have to clearly define the time period for which the data will be stored and the security measures taken to protect it from misuse. The law also lays down the penalties in case of a breach.

Though in a less detailed manner, the current IT Act also addresses some of these issues. It defines anything which reveals financial information, biometric, health and medical records, etc, as sensitive financial information which cannot be put in the public domain.

However, experts said the government is lax in even enforcing the existing laws. To be fair, some states and departments have started being prudent about the data they put online. For instance, the state government of Chhattisgarh, a trend setter in effectively implementing the Public Distribution System, doesn't reveal much in terms of citizen information that can identify a person or can be termed as a breach of privacy. Similarly, Odisha and some northeastern states have put in a layer of security which creates some deterrents while using common keywords to search the electoral roll and create a profile of residents in a particular locality.

However, for now, most departments stuck in the tradeoff between privacy and transparency find solace in pointing fingers at contemporaries who might have also put "more sensitive and dangerous" citizen details online. The blame game doesn't end.

PRIVACY PRINCIPLES
Recommendations of the A P Shah Committee*

ACCOUNTABILITY
* A data controller to give notice before collecting personal information, state its purposes, whether it would be disclosed to third parties and the security measures taken

CHOICE AND CONSENT
* Individuals to get choice as to what information can be shared, empowering them to approve and authorise collection and usage

DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
* Personal information would not be disclosed to third parties without notice

COLLECTION LIMITATION
* Only necessary data required for the purpose would be collected; reduces possibilities of misuse

PURPOSE LIMITATION
* Data collected should be adequate and relevant to the purposes for which these are processed

* Ensure personal information is retained only as long as it is necessary

SECURITY
* Reasonable security safeguards against any reasonably foreseeable risks, including unauthorised access

4939 - Aadhaar safety concern not major; LPG subsidy is the main motive - Bangalore Citizen Matters

Aadhaar safety concern not major; LPG subsidy is the main motive

Most people in Bengaluru for whom spending an extra Rs 4,500 per year is not at all problem, still want Aadhaar card for the LPG subsidy it can provide. There are no rules after all, in India, that stop the rich from claiming LPG subsidies.

Bosky Khanna, 12 Nov 2013 , Citizen Matters

Citizens participating in an Aadhaar enrolment drive. File pic.

Aadhaar card, though has been challenged in various courts, is still considered as an important identity card by many. The queues in Aadhaar enrolment centres are a testimony to this.

Aadhaar card is not mandatory, according to Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI). Now that the Supreme Court has given an interim order banning making Aadhaar compulsory to avail government subsidies, the demand for Aadhaar card should go down - but that’s not the case.

All subsidies, including LPG subsidy, are meant to be for poor people. Interestingly, LPG subsidy is claimed by all, including the affluent for whom shedding Rs 4,500 extra per year is not at all a big deal. Most people want Aadhaar card just for this purpose.

Citizen Matters spoke to some people in the upper income bracket, to understand why they want Aadhaar card. Here’s the reaction.

Subsidy a major reason

Jayalakshmi Venugopal, an IT employee in a private firm, has applied for an Aadhaar card in the month of September. She has applied for the card because she wants to get the LPG gas connection at a subsidised rate.

“I have not been told by the my gas supplier to submit my Aadhaar card details. It is a matter of time before it becomes essential. Cooking gas is also becoming expensive. I presently pay Rs 420 and it will cost Rs 900 in future. Despite the Supreme Court saying it is not mandatory, the government and many organisations are still pressing for it. So as a citizen, I want to be on the safer side,” she says.

Ramanthan Thiagarajan, Finance Controller in EASi too recently applied for an Aadhaar card after hearing that it will help in getting subsidised LPG cylinders. “This is the prime reason why my entire family has applied for the card, because I have heard that the gas agencies are linking subsidy cash payment for domestic LPG up to nine cylinders per year. Otherwise I do not see any other importance of the card. However, so far, we have not been asked by anybody to give our details,” he explains.

Sona Dronamraju, a consultant in Tech Mahindra, says that the family has applied for Aadhaar card in May 2013, after they got to know of the subsidies available, especially on LPG cylinders. The family did not apply for the card earlier because of long queues in enrolment centres.

But isn’t the subsidy meant for poor?  Sona has an argument for this: “Despite the fact that we are in the higher tax bracket, we are paying taxes to the government. So when we are paying taxes, why not take the benefits? When it comes to paying we are sincere, we should also be entitled to the benefits,” she adds.

'Gas agencies demanding Aadhaar'

While most people are applying for Aadhaar card voluntarily, there are some who are forced to do so because their gas supplier agency has asked them to do so.

Ravee N K, a resident of Alur, says that he applied for Aadhaar card in November 2012. His wife has applied six months back for one. Last week, his LPG supplier called up and informed that they had to produce their Aadhaar card and bank details.

“I feel that it is better to apply for all government cards, because you never know when it is required. I was earlier against Aadhaar card, but how much can one resist. Even though the Supreme Court has said it is not mandatory, the government is wanting to pass a bill in the Parliament to make it mandatory,” he says. He is a retired Finance Director from HP.

'An important identity document'

There are some people who see Aadhaar card as what it is actually - an identity document. Neelesh Salgaonkar, an IT professional, says that he brought the forms for his family because it is an important identity document. “No one in particular has asked us for the card and I do not think it is mandatory too. I look at Aadhaar as a social security number, like it is in the USA. So as an Indian citizen, it should have a national identity. The Ration card and passport are only limited to some sections of society, while Aadhaar is for all.”

He adds that the government incentives are for the needy and in future it could be leveraged by the government and private industries, alike. Neelesh says that there are no immediate benefits of Aadhaar. Unless every citizen is covered in it, it is too early to see the implications. The biometrics can be used later for Visa and passport verifications. The government is also not fully sure of all the benefits it can have.

Dhanalakshmi Kandaswamy, a MarComm manager, says that she is not losing anything by not having an Aadhaar card. “I look at it as another identity card, a card to avail public services in future and for bank transactions,” she adds.

‘Banks insist on Aadhaar’

Akanksha Melhotra, an associate consultant at Ogilvy Networks, says that she and her husband have applied for Aadhaar. “We want it because it is mandatory for bank transactions. Even though the passport and driving licence are sufficient, private banks are insisting for it. It is gradually becoming an important identity proof. So we have applied for it, before it becomes too late.”

‘Safety not a great concern’

Jayalakshmi points that safety is secondary in India. “When you are living in India you are bound to take risk. Banks also have your details and they know how often you shop, for how much and where. Details of people are floating around everywhere. It is a risk everybody is taking. For LPG connection, government is giving the facility to open a separate bank account, so the fear of losing money is ruled out. I don’t see any other risk associated with it, because the details are being collected by government-hired agencies for the government,” adds Jayalakshmi.

Ramanathan is well aware of the fact that Aadhaar cards are being issued to all residents including illegal immigrants. He is worried of the manner in which information is collected by private agencies. The safety measures adopted by the agencies to monitor the effectiveness by UIDAI, is also worrying, he says.

Ravee says he is sceptical about the LPG consumer number being linked to the bank account. “I wonder what is the guarantee that nobody will clean up my bank account. When income tax details can be leaked, details of any organisation can also be leaked. If you are a part of 1.2 billion people, privacy is the first casualty. Privacy is a big joke in India,” he explains. He says Aadhaar is not the sole cause of worry, as nowadays biometric details are collected by RTO for driving licence and for property registration.

He also feels that Nandan Nilekani, chairman of UIDAI, is a very smart person. He would have definitely thought about the security and safety aspect, he says.

In a nutshell, there seem to be two kind of people among affluent who want Aadhaar card : Those who want to go for Aadhaar just for the sake of availing subsidies, and those who see it as an important identity card despite court cases. Most people are able to see that the safety risk involved in revealing details to get Aadhaar card is present even in other forms of id cards.

Write to Author  ·  Write to Editor

Bosky Khanna

Bosky Khanna is Staff Journalist, Citizen Matters.

4938 - Aadhaar enrolment still an arduous task - The Hindu

KOCHI, November 11, 2013

Aadhaar enrolment still an arduous task

STAFF REPORTER

HICCUPS APLENTY:There is no clear-cut data on Aadhaar coverage in Ernakulam district.— Photo: K.K. Mustafah

Dearth of adequate number of enrolment centres within city limits and constant hiccups in enrolment mechanism have made life difficult for members of the public looking to secure Aadhaar number.

With the Parliament planning to move a bill during the forthcoming winter session to give statutory status to the Unique Identification Authority of India that issues Aadhaar number, the prospects of Aadhaar becoming mandatory for various welfare schemes appear increasingly probable.

About 50 Akshaya centres are engaged in Aadhaar enrolment in the district. At one point of time, there were as many as 70 centres providing the service.

The experience of Sunitha, a city-based college lecturer, last week exemplifies the hardships encountered by the public in securing Aadhaar more than two years after the process was set in motion. She along with her two children approached an Akshaya centre in Palarivattom. About 45 minutes into their wait, the system broke down and it took a while before it was restored.

The system broke down yet again just before their turn and they were informed that enrolment would not be possible that day. Sunitha and her children then went to an Akshaya centre at Kakkanad only to see it shut. It was well past afternoon when they eventually got enrolled at an Akshaya centre at Pattimattom, almost 25 km from the city.

M.P. Chackochan, president, Akshaya Welfare Association, Ernakulam, said entrepreneurs faced immense difficulty in case of breakdown of laptop or biometric devices. “Systems were supplied by a Thiruvananthapuram-based company which does not have any branches in Kochi. Hence enrolment will be affected at least for a couple of days till the problem is fixed,” he said.

Enrolment will be hit for even longer if the biometric devices encountered serious problems. For instance, the enrolment will be affected for a couple of weeks if the device needs a replacement. The replacements had to come from Hyderabad, Mr. Chackochan said.

Meanwhile, the rate of daily enrolment has come down to 20-30 from 120-150. This could be attributed to the uncertainty over whether or not Aadhaar was mandatory especially in the wake of the Supreme Court verdict against making Aadhaar mandatory for welfare schemes. Mr. Chackochan said there could be another surge in enrolment if the Union government’s move to give statutory status to UID becomes a reality. There is no clear-cut data on the Aadhaar coverage in the district. Mr. Chackochan said the presence of a huge floating population made such an assessment difficult.

4937 - Can petrol subsidy be Aadhaar-linked? - The Hindu

OPINION » OPEN PAGE

November 9, 2013

Updated: November 9, 2013 23:40 IST

Can petrol subsidy be Aadhaar-linked?

KURUVILLA JOHN

“Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value — zero.” — Voltaire

Over 300 years, the British pound lost 99 per cent of its value. The rise and fall of the Asian currencies, in the 1990s, prove right the prefaced word of caution. Financial overextension, an alarming rise in foreign debt, and hyper-inflation drive us down a steep precipice, rudderless.

For the capital mistakes of politicians, bureaucrats and the Indian elite, the poor Indian should not be sentenced to capital punishment in the form of continual, illogical fuel price hike, as you like, fuelling all-round inflation, hopelessly impoverishing him, upsetting the fragile public transport economics.

Inflation, fiscal deficit, current account deficit, and then currency devaluation operate not in watertight chambers. They move in a vicious circle, complementing each other.

Desperate are the naïve moves like ‘fuel-curfew’ and callous threats of further dosage of mindless price increase. The only thing constant is the sheer absence of imagination and reforms to reduce oil consumption through a conscious promotion of public transport vis-à-vis private. Like a seesaw — when one side is stable, the other side goes unstable — fuel price rise leads to higher transportation costs, resulting in general inflation and higher government expenditure — increased D.A., rising cost of travel, purchases and contracts — (offsetting benefits from fuel price hike), which eventually end up in a wider fiscal deficit, impelling the government to scout for external borrowings, woo ephemeral FIIs, FDIs, whose servicing/repatriation itself worsens CAD, back to square one.

A plethora of baffling domestic/international factors frustrate our efforts to cut consumption of petroleum products, and mitigate hardship. The recent, reasonably successful pattern of direct cash transfer of subsidy for cooking gas could be an intelligent management model to streamline the slippery oil scenario:

a). Let GoI — through a permanent Judicial Petroleum Commission — transparently fix the economic price of petrol/diesel/cooking gas every week/fortnight/month;

b). A subsidised entitlement — like nine cylinders of cooking gas — maybe 600 litres of petrol/diesel per annum, for all motor vehicles put together, in every household;

c). Like for cooking gas, when the vehicle owner pays the full price at the petrol pump, the subsidy amount would get credited forthwith to his/her Aadhaar-linked bank account;

d). Over and above this, any quantity, as required, would be available but, without subsidy, as in the case of gas. (Later on, it could be fine-tuned, bringing in differential subsidy for fuel-efficient economy vehicles vis-à-vis limousines.)

The Finance Minister, the RBI Governor and now the Petroleum Minister, singly trying to counteract the gravitational pull of the rupee, resemble Atlas holding the globe in Greek mythology. As our rupee nosedives, this writer thought it fit to do his mite.

Our dusty old bicycle — rusting in the carshed for some time — was oiled and overhauled, its crumbled tyres inflated, to make it roadworthy. Great! It runs — without fuel. With a spirited sense of adventure, this antique piece slowly moved out on to the road, from our housing colony to busy roads. Amused motorcyclists kept a respectful distance from this wobbling ‘endangered species’, while speeding limousines brashly overtook it, unbothered to reckon with this tax-free poor cousin.

If only we earmark one per cent of the proceeds of every fuel price hike to kick-start our dream bicycle-paths, vanishing footpaths, Pelican crossings, and to refurbish RTCs! No better recipe for a resurgent rupee!

This writer’s 62-year old lungs pumped hard to pedal the cycle, wondering why simple solutions ever elude us. In a soliloquy to the listening air: Satyameva Jayate, ‘Sada jeevan, Uchch vichar’, Swadeshi — Who lives if India, the Indian rupee, dies?

(The writer is a former IAS officer. Email: kuruvillajohn@yahoo.com)

4936 - No end to confusion over Aadhaar - TNN

No end to confusion over Aadhaar

Prakash Samaga, TNN Nov 10, 2013, 04.36AM IST

UDUPI: LPG consumers and dealers are an angry lot. Added to the delay in issual of Aadhaar cards, the recent Supreme Court ruling that Aadhaar should not be linked to domestic gas subsidy has only angered them more with no clarity coming from the district administration on the issue.

Though the district administration in Udupi had announced that all the LPG consumers must link their Aadhaar numbers to their bank account and with their LPG dealer to avail the subsidy money, the pace of implementing the Aadhaar-linked subsidy scheme for LPG has not picked up in Udupi following the Supreme Court's recent ruling that the unique number cannot be made mandatory for any welfare schemes.

However, with no clarity on the issue, the LPG dealers and the consumers are in confusion as they are not sure of what to be followed, either to go ahead by linking their Aadhar numbers or adhere to the Supreme Court's order

Deputy commissioner M T Reju says as the Supreme Court has maintained that Aadhaar card is not mandatory for availing social welfare benefits, the district administration cannot make it mandatory. He added that LPG dealers cannot ask consumers to provide Aadhaar card anymore.

The direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme was introduced in Udupi district on October 1 and the administration had given three months grace period.

An LPG dealer, who refused to be identified, says that his petroleum company insists that all their consumers link their Aadhaar numbers to their bank account if they want the subsidy remitted. Says he: ''I have 10,000 LPG consumers and around 1,000 of them have linked their Aadhaar numbers. The rest have not done so citing the apex court's order. So I have not been forcing them to link their Aadhaar numbers for LPG subsidy,'' putting the onus on the district administration for further clarification on the issue.

K Subba Rao, lead district chief manager, Udupi, told STOI that there are 1,74,500 LPG connections in the district and 17,000 of them have linked their Aadhar numbers to both bank account and with their LPG dealers for availing LPG subsidy. ''Banks in the district are not forcing their customers to link their Aadhaar numbers to their bank account, however we have been accepting from those who voluntarily came forward,'' he explained. He added that consumers who link their Aadhaar numbers need to ensure that the bank account they give for availing subsidy is operative.

4935 - National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2013 to be introduced in the winter session of Parliament - Governance Now

National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2013 to be introduced in the winter session of Parliament

The Bill will provide a legal backing to the UIDAI

| NOVEMBER 09 2013

All necessary steps have been taken for introduction of the National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2013 in the winter session of Parliament likely to commence from the 1st week of the next month. The Union Cabinet has already approved the proposal submitted by the Ministry of Planning for moving official amendments to the Bill last month, according to an official release by Planning Commission of India.

The National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2010 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on 3rd December. The Speaker, Lok Sabha in consultation with the Chairman, Rajya Sabha referred the Bill to the Standing Committee on Finance. The Standing Committee presented the Report to the Lok Sabha and laid it in Rajya Sabha on 13th December 2011.

The UIDAI has been functioning under an executive order issued by the Government in January 2009, establishing UIDAI as an Attached Office of the Planning Commission. The Bill proposes to constitute a statutory authority to be called the National Identification Authority of India and lay down the powers and functions of the Authority, the framework for issuing Aadhaar numbers, defines offences and penalties and matters incidental thereto through an Act of Parliament.

The National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2010, inter alia, seeks to provide, among other things, specific details of the demographic information and biometric information for enrolment for Aadhaar and the processes for their collection and verification. It also aims to provide accurate details of these data collection agencies and ministries, said the release.

The release also stated the issuance of Aadhaar was based on the opinion of the Ministry of Law and Justice and the opinion of the Attorney General of India who had stated that the UIDAI can continue to function under the executive order issued by the Government and there is nothing in the law, or otherwise, which prevents the Authority from functioning under the executive authorization.

The release said that with respect to the concern of the Standing Committee on unauthorised access and misuse of personal information, provisions have been made in the Bill for protection of information.

As regards the apprehension that service/benefits might be denied to individual who do not have Aadhaar, it has been clarified that Aadhaar number is an enabler, with a purpose of effective delivery and benefits by establishing identity of the resident, said the release.

The actual requirement and the use of Aadhaar will be determined by the implementing ministries/agencies.

Among the procedural issues raised against Aadhaar are untested and unreliable technology; global experience of identity projects; high cost; absence of study on financial implication; duplication of effort with National Population Register exercise; and inability to in covering full or near full the marginalised sections. These issues have been answered by planning commission which has said in the release that cost projections for the UIDAI project were approved by the Government of India for total amount of Rs 12,398.22 crore as compared to Rs. 150,000 crore according to some media reports.

The total cumulative expenditure incurred by UIDAI, since inception of the project, is Rs. 3490 crore as on 30th September 2013, said the release.

It pointed out that a Cost-Benefit Analysis of Aadhaar Project conducted by the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) shows that the Internal Rate of Return (IRR), in real terms, generated by Aadhaar would be 52.85%.

In January 2012, it was decided with the approval of the Cabinet Committee on UIDAI, that NPR and UIDAI enrolments should proceed simultaneously.

4934 - No retrospective LPG subsidy: Oil companies - TNN

No retrospective LPG subsidy: Oil companies

TNN Nov 9, 2013, 01.58AM IST

HYDERABAD: Even as a majority of LPG consumers are brimming with grievances ever since the Centre decided to link the supply of gas and subsidy to the Aadhaar card, three oil companies have made it clear they cannot pay the subsidy with retrospective effect.

The authorities had announced that subsidy will not be given to those who did not link their Aadhaar cards with their bank accounts and LPG dealer by September 1, 2013. However, the oil companies - Bharat Petroleum limited ( BPL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation limited ( HPCL) and Indian Oil Company ( IOC) - have further said they cannot pay retrospective subsidies to those whose Aadhaar cards are still pending. "There is no provision to make such payments with the petroleum and natural gas ministry," said an official.

The companies are firm in their stand despite requests by the state civil supplies officials who are being flooded by complaints for non-receipt of LPG subsidies. "We requested the oil companies to pay the subsidy amount to consumers with retrospective effect from September 1 at least in cases where the consumers did not get their subsidy in spite of getting their Aadhaar linked. However, they did not respond positively," Hyderabad district chief ration officer Padma said.

Meanwhile, the consumers continue to suffer. "I got enrolled for Aadhaar several months ago but got my card only in October. In the meantime, I purchased two cylinders at full rate after expiry of August 31 deadline. But now, the oil companies are refusing to repay the subsidy for earlier months," said K Sudhakar, a Chikkadpally resident.

Other consumers complained that they linked their Aadhaar cards with LPG distributors and banks way before the deadline but got the subsidy only in October end. "What happens to the subsidy for the earlier two cylinders I purchased on the full amount?" asked a resident.

4933 - Oil firms in Kerala steam ahead with direct subsidy transfer - The Hindu

KOCHI, November 8, 2013

Updated: November 8, 2013 14:28 IST

Oil firms in Kerala steam ahead with direct subsidy transfer

M. P. PRAVEEN

Oil companies are steaming ahead with the November 30 deadline for the implementation of the Aadhaar-based DBLT of LPG subsidy in the absence of any specific direction from the Union Ministry for Petroleum and Natural Gas. File photo

Tries to meet November 30 deadline for Aadhaar-based scheme

The more than 80 lakh domestic LPG consumers in the State will do well to enrol under Aadhaar and get the Aadhaar number seeded with their respective LPG consumer ID and bank account to ensure uninterrupted supply of subsidized cooking gas from next month.

Though the Supreme Court had directed against making Aadhaar mandatory for welfare schemes, the oil companies are steaming ahead to meet the November 30 deadline for the implementation of the Aadhaar-based Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG subsidy (DBTL) in the absence of any specific direction from the Union Ministry for Petroleum and Natural Gas.

DBTL requires LPG consumers to seed their Aadhaar numbers with their respective LPG consumer ID and bank account, on which they will become Cash Transfer Complaint (CTC) consumers, facilitating direct transfer of subsidy for each cylinder to their bank accounts up to a capped limit of nine cylinders a year.

For this, consumers will have to apply in a prescribed form, or through internet, along with a copy of their Aadhaar card or letter with the gas agency and the bank concerned.

About 50 per cent of the 20-lakh subscribers of BPCL in the State have become CTC while it is about 35 per cent for HPCL, which has the close to 10 lakh subscribers in the State. The data is not available for Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), which has the biggest subscriber base of more than 50 lakh in the State.

A senior official of a major oil company said that not only had they received any direction from the government to go slow on DBTL but instead there was a notification that stated that there was no violation of the Supreme Court order in collecting Aadhaar number for direct transfer of subsidy.

Subsidy is already being routed through bank accounts in the case of consumers who have become CTC. Such consumers are required to pay the non-subsidized rate while the subsidy component gets credited to their bank accounts. But this has not been without its share of problems. There were complaints of gas agencies collecting more than the actual price and variation in the subsidy credited to their accounts.

Oil company officials said that the market price of domestic LPG will keep on varying monthly and consequently the subsidy component as well. A slight variation in the subsidy credited had been attributed to the tax collected by the State government.

Oil companies also ruled out the gas agencies collecting more than the bill amount stating that though issued by gas agency operators, the bills are being set by the oil companies. For instance, the non-subsidized rate of a domestic LPG cylinder of IOC in Ernakulam comes to Rs. 993.50 while the subsidy comes to about Rs. 525.92.

Keywords: cooking gas supply, Aadhar card, DBTL, CTC, LPG supply in Kerala

4932 - Mangalore: Union Minister Veerappa Moily asserts Aadhaar Card not Mandatory citing SC Ruling - Bellevision

Mangalore: Union Minister Veerappa Moily asserts Aadhaar Card not Mandatory citing SC Ruling

By Ashritha DSouza

Pics by John V Tauro

Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 9 Nov  2013 : Supreme Court (SC) already ruled that Aadhaar Card, Unique Identity (UID) is not mandatory; and it binds the ministry, said union petroleum and natural gas minister M Veerappa Moily.

Addressing the media persons at state-run guesthouse located in Kadri Hills, here on Friday November 8 evening, minister Moily said that the union government has profited to the tune of Rs 50 crore by transferring the subsidies directly to the beneficiaries whose savings bank accounts are linked to Aadhaar Card.  The bogus cards ceased to come on mainstream, owing to the effectiveness of Aadhaar Card linkage to beneficiaries bank accounts, said minister Moily.

The marketing of 5 kilograms LPG cylinders are already begun in filling stations with good response, added minister Moily.

‘I have been travelling in trains and public transport since the past 2 months to save energy costs.  It has indeed saved huge money.  If the countrymen do the same, the nation will save Rs 28,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore in energy costs.  It will in turn lead to slash in prices of petroleum products.  The educating the public in this regard is the need of the hour,’ said minister Moily.

No need worry over anti-superstition Bill

Nothing has been decided on introducing anti-superstition Bill; as CM Siddaramaiah has not officially stated in this regard.  The state administration will not introduce the Bill that will hinder the belief of masses.  The people need not worry over the issue, said minister Moily.

National Law School of University submitted a proposal to union government on anti-superstition Act; it has not come up for discussion in the parliament, said minister Moily.

Modi acting like Hitler

Narendra Modi is a liar, acts like Hitler.  He boasts about stalwarts Vallabhabai Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru, but does not know their struggle in unifying the states and treading the nation during upheavals.  He wants to make a life size statue of Vallabhabai Patel, which will not make Modi a great man indeed.   He is crazy for publicity and speaks whatever pleases to satiate his ego, criticized minister Moily.

4931 - PCC chief slams CM on poor Aadhaar coverage - Indian Express

PCC chief slams CM on poor Aadhaar coverage

Express News Service : Kolkata, Sat Nov 09 2013, 05:21 hrs

Pradesh Congress (PCC) chief Pradip Bhattacharya Friday slammed the state government for failing to implement the Aadhaar card project and alleged that TMC-led government is shielding the interests of middlemen.

"If the CM cannot explain the failure of the state government in implementing the Aadhaar project, she must apologise. But she is not doing that. Instead, she is misleading the people about the project," Bhattacharya said.

On the alleged role of middlemen, PCC chief said, "The government is trying to stall the implementation of Aadhaar project as it wants to protect the interests of middlemen, most of whom are members of the ruling party." A few days back, Banerjee had criticised the Centre for stating that people will have to buy cylinders at the market price if they do not have Aadhaar cards.

"Even before the Aadhaar card project was initiated in the state, an empowered committee headed by the Chief Minister and an Implementation Committee headed by the Chief Secretary were formed to oversee the project", PCC chief added.

4930 - Government responds to UIDAI criticism - Live Mint

Government responds to UIDAI criticism

Opinion of ministry and attorney general was the basis for issuing Aadhaar numbers before a law backing it was passed

Kirthi V. Rao 

The official comment came was in response to criticism that the UIDAI was issuing the Aadhaar numbers on the basis of only an executive order and not a law. Photo: Ramesh Pathania/Mint

New Delhi: The opinion of the law ministry and the attorney general was the basis for issuing Aadhaar unique identity numbers before a law backing it was passed, a government release said on Thursday.

The official comment came was in response to criticism that the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) was issuing the unique identity numbers on the basis of only an executive order and not a law.

The release, titled National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2013, to be introduced in winter session of Parliament, responds to this and other criticisms of the parliamentary standing committee on finance. The Bill was referred to the House panel headed by opposition leader Yashwant Sinha after it was introduced on 3 December 2010 in the upper House.

4929 - Banks continue to push for Aadhaar - Deccan Chronicle

Banks continue to push for Aadhaar

DC | 08th Nov 2013

Bengaluru: Banks have started emailing their customers forms to link their bank accounts with Aadhaar card. The email states, “It is important to acquire Aadhaar, it is also important to link your Aadhaar number to your bank account.”

The insistence from banks comes at a time when many are confused whether to go ahead with Aadhaar enrollment or not, following a Supreme Court order that it cannot be made mandatory for any social benefits extended by any government department or agency.

In the view of this order, the banks are now selling it as a ‘convenience’ rather than mandate. The emails being sent by banks state that the 12 digit unique identification number (UID), will not only serve as an proof of identity and residence, but it will also help customers avail eligible Government subsidies.

Hence linking bank accounts with Aadhaar will make the process of receiving eligible subsidies more convenient, as the payment gets routed directly through the Aadhaar-linked bank account.

This may be seen as promoting Aadhaar card when the legality of the scheme is under question. Forms sent to customers by banks also mention that Aadhaar number may be submitted by “resident individuals” (not citizens). The Supreme Court order also wants the authorities concerned to make sure that illegal migrants do not get Aadhaar cards.

However, banks continue to accept Aadhaar for all residents of India, which might include illegal migrants as Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has always maintained that Aadhaar numbers were to be issued for ‘every resident of India’.

In Karnataka, some social benefits have been suspended in Mysore and Tumkur after they failed to furnish their Aadhaar numbers. Mysore, Tum­kur and Dharwad are among the 51 districts that the union government has chosen for the first phase of implementation of direct cash transfer of subsidies.

States: 

Karnataka

4928 - DBT for LPG users launched in central Tamil Nadu - The Hindu

CITIES » TIRUCHIRAPALLI

TIRUCHI, November 7, 2013

Updated: November 7, 2013 12:20 IST

DBT for LPG users launched in central Tamil Nadu

Users given three months to get Aadhar cards linked with LPG connection

Direct transfer of benefit (DBT) scheme for LPG consumers has been launched in Tiruchi, Pudukottai, and Nagapattinam districts in the Central region of Tamil Nadu from November 1.

Although the Centre had planned to roll out the DBT in Tiruchi, Ariyalur, and Pudukottai districts from July 1, the move was deferred as the ground work, including linkage/seeding of bank accounts and the Aadhaar numbers of the consumers was not done. The scheme was launched in Ariyalur district on October 1 amidst much confusion.

A few days ago, an advertisement was issued in newspapers here informing LPG consumers that the DBT scheme was being launched in Tiruchi and Pudukottai districts from November 1. Consumers were advised to submit the bank account-Aadhaar linkage application form at their bank branches and link their Aadhaar numbers with the LPG consumer numbers by visiting their LPG distributors to avail the subsidy for the cylinders. Although the advertisement did not say whether Aadhaar was mandatory for getting the subsidy, it said: “Domestic LPG is available at market price without Aadhaar.”

Under the scheme, LPG consumers will have to buy the refills at full market price and the difference between the subsidised and market prices will be transferred to their bank account for up to nine cylinders a year. The Aadhaar platform, which provides a resident a 12-digit unique number after recording bio-metric information such as fingerprints and iris, is being used to implement the cash transfer scheme.

In September, the Supreme Court had ruled that Aadhaar could not be made mandatory for people to get government services and subsidy and nobody should be deprived of such facilities for want of the card. It rejected the review petition filed by the government on this issue.

Recently, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister M. Veerappa Moily had said that Aadhaar would not be mandatory for one to avail oneself of the subsidy for domestic cylinders till it was cleared by the Supreme Court or through legislative authorisation.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa too had opposed the introduction of the DBT for LPG consumers in view of the slow pace of the assigning Aadhaar numbers.

In view of the opposition from the State government, district officials are maintaining a hands-off approach and say that they are not aware of the modalities of the implementation of the scheme.

A senior officer of the Indian Oil Corporation in Tiruchi, when contacted, confirmed that the DBT had been launched in Tiruchi and Nagapattinam districts of IOCL’s Tiruchi region. (The scheme has been launched in Pudukottai and Madurai districts too).

“The scheme is on from November 1. Consumers are required to get their Aadhaar cards and carry out the linkage process at the banks and their distributors within three months,” he said.

He clarified that e-Aadhaar letters generated online will be accepted as only the numbers were required for linking them with the consumer numbers.

Consumers could carry out the linkage process online or through SMS, he said.

Although the Aadhaar coverage in the three districts was put at approximately 70 per cent of their respective above-five population, the figure refers mainly to the recording of bio-metric data of the residents under the National Population Register programme.

Aadhaar cards were yet to reach many of those covered so far.

The second round of NPR camps was still going on in the districts.

According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas website on DBTL (http://www.petroleum.nic.in/dbtl/index.htm), the scheme is to be launched in Cuddalore, Perambalur, Karur, Dharmapuri, Salem, Virudhunagar and Erode districts in the State from December 1 under phase V and in Thanjavur, Dindigul, Tiruvarur, Namakkal, Vellore, Ramanthapuram, Villupuram, Theni, Kanyakumari, Kancheepuram, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Krishnagiri districts from January 1 under phase VI of the roll out.

4927 - Aadhar links for LPG customers a far cry - TNN

Aadhar links for LPG customers a far cry

Abhilash Botekar, TNN Nov 4, 2013, 05.27AM IST

NASHIK: Only 4% of the LPG customers in the district have been linked to Aadhaar (Unique Identity Number, UID) and their bank accounts under the Direct Benefit Transfer LPG (DBTL), even as there are as many as 1.64 lakh customers with Aadhaar cards.

The district has nearly 10.03 lakh LPG customers who have their bank accounts under the DBTL. To get the subsidy delivered directly into their account, the customers are required to update the Aadhaar number with the LPD dealer and also furnish their bank account number

The process of linking the LPG account with Aadhar numbers began in September, for which, nearly 40 Aadhaar processing kits were given at LPG dealerships by the district administration.

However, by the first of November 2013, when the DBTL scheme was to be implemented by the central government, only 44,000 customers had updated the records of bank accounts and Aadhaar numbers, district supply officer Mahesh Patil said.

So far, a large number of customers have linked their bank accounts with the LPG accounts. Of these, many are yet to link their Aadhaar numbers as well, since processing of the Aadhaar number itself is a lengthy and a time consuming procedure.

Meanwhile, subsidies to those with LPG accounts linked to Aadhaar and bank accounts are already being provided. Every year, the central government will deposit the value of subsidy of maximum of nine cylinders in the bank account of the LPG customer as and when the customer books the cylinder. For example, a customer with the LPG account linked with his bank account and Aadhaar number, goes to buy a cylinder at the market rate of Rs 1,000, will be paid back the subsidy amount, say Rs 500, in his bank account by the government. The fresh subsidy will start and end with respect to the financial year. After January 2014, those who have not linked their bank accounts and Aadhaar numbers to the LPG accounts will not be applicable for subsidized rates.

As per the government decision, Aadhaar was made mandatory for customers to get LPG subsidy. In Nashik, November 2013 was the deadline, with a grace period of three months, to ensure that all LPG account holders updated their Aadhaar numbers and bank accounts. "Citizens who have their accounts linked with the Aadhaar number and bank accounts will get the subsidy, while those not linked so far, will not be getting the subsidy after the grace period ends. There have been no specific directions by the central government on the decision of the Supreme Court, which had said that Aadhaar was not compulsory to get any subsidy. We hope the issue will be sorted out by the end of the grace period -January end 2014," an official from the supply office said.

4926 - Subsidy scheme for LPG skids on apex court ruling on Aadhaar - Hindu Businessline

Subsidy scheme for LPG skids on apex court ruling on Aadhaar

• RICHA MISHRA

• SIDDHARTHA P. SAIKIA

Subsidy transfers: Under the scheme, cash subsidy is directly transferred to a customer’s bank account as soon as he/she books a refill. Both the bank account and LPG customer number are linked to Aadhaar.. — Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

Oil Ministry seeks clarity for smooth rollout in more districts

NEW DELHI, NOV. 6:  

The pace of implementing the Aadhaar-linked subsidy scheme for LPG has slowed down following the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that the unique number cannot be made mandatory for welfare schemes.

The latest data for the week ended October 27 show that the increase in those opting for such schemes has been only 0.4 per cent against up to five per cent earlier.

There is confusion in the minds of customers after the Supreme Court said that public services, such as LPG connections, cannot be denied to a person if he/she does not possess an Aadhaar number, a senior Government official said. This is being contested by the Government, he added.

However, till a final verdict is out, the pace of the Government’s ‘game changer’ Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) of LPG scheme, being implemented by the Ministry for Petroleum & Natural Gas, will slacken.

Under the scheme, cash subsidy is directly transferred to a customer’s bank account as soon as he/she books a refill. Both the bank account and LPG customer number are linked to Aadhaar.

“Immediate clarity is required, as it is affecting the implementation of an otherwise successful programme,” an official told Business Line.

He said the scheme had helped reduce black marketing, removed customer duplication and had cut LPG imports. “We have already cancelled 0.86 million tonne of LPG imports. Every year, India imports about 6 million tonne of LPG,” a Petroleum Ministry official said.

Phase one of the scheme was launched in June in 18 districts of eight States and two Union Territories, which was extended to 20 districts in August. As part of the decongestion programme before launching the scheme, oil companies had removed 63 lakh customers who had more than one connection. The total LPG customer base now is around 15 crore, with around one crore new consumers added every year.

The Government has decided to extend the scheme in 235 more districts by January 2014 in phases, depending on Aadhaar penetration. With this roll-out, almost half the country, covering 289 districts, are expected to get covered by January.

Today, the scheme is operating in over 144 districts, covering 8.3 million consumers.

The official said “in States where Aadhaar penetration is good, there is no problem. But in States such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where the Aadhaar availability is low, this uncertainty will create an issue.”

Public sector oil marketing companies have already spent close to Rs 1,000 crore as subsidy on LPG, which is yet to be reimbursed by the Finance Ministry. The Petroleum Ministry is looking at an outgo of almost Rs 9,000 crore in the scheme.

The reimbursement for the current fiscal is expected to come in the second supplementary demands for grant to be considered in the Winter session of Parliament.

richa.mishra@thehindu.co.in

siddhartha.s@thehindu.co.in

(This article was published on November 6, 2013)

Keywords: Aadhaar-linked subsidy scheme for LPG, Supreme Court’s recent ruling, Direct Benefits Transfer of LPG scheme

4925 - Lack of transparency in implementation of Aadhar cards : Biman Bose - Economic Times

Lack of transparency in implementation of Aadhar cards : Biman Bose

PTI Nov 4, 2013, 08.48PM IST

KOLKATA: Lack of transparency in the implementation of Aadhar card is affecting services to the common people, CPI-M state secretary Biman Bose said and accused UPA government at the Centre for it.

"This lack of clarity in issuing Aadhar cards should be removed as it is effecting the common masses. The lack of transparency is affecting the services to the masses," he rpt he told a press conference.

Bose said Aadhar cards to be linked with bank accounts will affect the masses as many poor people in villages do not have bank accounts to avail its facilities.

Asked to comment on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's recent tirade against the Centre over Aadhar cards, Bose said "When this matter was brought up by the UPA regime, the Left had protested against many anomalies. But what was the stand of Trinamool Congress, which was then an ally of UPA, needs to be looked into."

"What was their (TMC) stand then and what is their stand now needs to be looked into," said Bose.

Banerjee had few days ago said Aadhaar cards must not be made compulsory to receive LPG gas subsidy and called for immediate review of the oil ministry's move.

Banerjee in her capacity as TMC chief had also warned that the IOC regional headquarters here might be gheraoed if required.

4924 - ‘State to continue linking Aadhaar cards with banks for LPG subsidy’ - Indian Express

‘State to continue linking Aadhaar cards with banks for LPG subsidy’

Nisha Nambiar : Pune, Wed Nov 06 2013, 04:45 hrs

Having received no clear directives from the Centre, the state government has said that it will continue to consider the Aadhaar card number important to get a gas subsidy. Chief secretary J Banthia has said that the state will continue to link LPG gas cylinders with Aadhaar cards for subsidy transfer till further notice.

"We have not got any clear directives from the Centre so we will continue the linkage," he said. After this directive, gas agencies became busy contacting their customers to rush and make their Aadhaar cards as well as submitting the documents to the banks at the earliest. "We have been contacting all the clients and asking them to give us their Aadhar card numbers. If they do not give it they will have to give up their subsidy as announced by the government,'' said an agency official based in Pulgate area.

Another agency has been contacting clients and even conducting drives in a school nearby to enable people to have their numbers soon. As per the arrangement, the market price for cooking gas is around Rs 950 to Rs 1,000 per cylinder. 

Households are entitled to nine discounted cylinders each year which cost Rs 450 - less than half that sum. Once the Aadhar-LPG scheme becomes mandatory, families will not get discounted cylinders. Instead, the subsidy will be transferred directly into their bank accounts.

To get the benefit however, citizens will have to get an Aadhaar number, link it to their bank account and also to their consumer number at the LPG agency.

Pune district collector Vikas Deshmukh too said that the linkage is picking up and said that they have received no further notice from the Centre. "The Aadhaar card helps to link up the gas agency and owner with the bank account and the subsidy will be transferred to the bank,'' said an official.

Officials say the Aadhaar number will help weed out duplicate or ghost beneficiaries of welfare schemes. "The direct cash transfer will ensure that subsidies reach the real beneficiary and are not diverted," said officials from the state Information Technology Department.

However, citizens feel that they should be given time as even though they will register now, they will get the card three months later, so in effect, they will stand to lose out on the subsidy.

"There is of course a certain group that doesn't have even basic bank accounts. That percentage needs to improve before any such scheme is launched,'' said another agency dealer in a rural area, who has come across several such cases. There are also questions being raised about Aadhaar — which was supposed to be voluntary. "Why is it being made compulsory now?'' asks a district official. The parliamentary standing committee had rejected a Bill which proposed making the Unique Identification Authority of India, which is overseeing the project, into a statutory authority.

4923 - Left sings Mamata tune on Aadhaar - The Telegraph

Left sings Mamata tune on Aadhaar

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Calcutta, Nov. 4: The Left Front today said not possessing Aadhaar cards could not be a ground for denying subsidy on LPG to domestic consumers, a stand Mamata Banerjee has taken. Realising that the chief minister had beaten them again in taking up an issue that will affect the common man, the Left Front today decided to protest the UPA II government’s move. After a meeting at Alimuddin Street this afternoon, CPM state secretary and Front chairman Biman Bose said: “It seems that the issuance of Aadhaar cards is enveloped in aandhaar (darkness). The Centre should throw light on this. The Left Front is strongly protesting the Centre’s move to link the Aadhaar card to the availability of subsidy on domestic LPG. In no way can the Centre deny such benefits to the consumers.” The Supreme Court has ruled that the Aadhaar card cannot be made mandatory for getting subsidy. Mamata’s outburst against the Centre came on Friday, the day the Aadhaar-linked direct benefit transfer scheme on domestic LPG came into effect in Calcutta, Howrah and Cooch Behar. Sources said the chief minister was unhappy because the majority of the people in Bengal was yet to get Aadhaar cards. Those who have got the cards are yet to get their bank accounts linked with them. Bose today wondered what would happen to those who did not have bank accounts and so wouldn’t be eligible for central subsidy. “The Centre should clarify all these,” he said.

4922 - Efforts on to cover all families under Aadhaar - The Hindu

NELLORE, November 5, 2013

Efforts on to cover all families under Aadhaar

A majority yet to get the benefit

The district administration is making additional arrangements to enable all the LPG domestic gas connection holders in Nellore district to get Aadhaar registration and bank linkage by the end of this December.

Efforts are being made to bring all families under the Aadhaar linkage programme so as to pass on the subsidy benefits to them through their respective bank accounts.

There are nearly 5.35 lakh LPG domestic gas connection holders all over the district.

Insufficient Aadhaar centres

Nearly 54 per cent connection holders are yet to be covered under the Aadhaar-bank linkage. This is attributed to the lack of sufficient of Aadhaar centres to enrol families. As a result, authorities have planned to open additional centres.

For the 46 per cent connection holders, who have got Aadhaar registration, the petroleum companies are passing on the subsidy benefits through the banks. This has begun from October itself, even as the respective families are expressing concern over some teething troubles in this process.

The total number of connections covered under Aadhaar-bank linkage is nearly 2.36 lakh. There are complaints that the State component of Rs. 50 is not being repaid to them under the linkage programme.

Three companies supplying gas

The domestic gas supply is being given by three major companies -- Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum and the Indian Oil Corporation.

Nearly 43 dealers are extending these services in different parts of the district.

Of the total 5.34 lakh connections, some 2.32 lakh holders have single cylinders and 1.84 lakh have double cylinders. About 1.26 lakh are covered under the government scheme ‘Deepam’ which is aimed at helping poor families.

4921 - Biman questions Mamata’s criticism of Aadhaar cards - The Hindu

KOLKATA, November 5, 2013

Biman questions Mamata’s criticism of Aadhaar cards

Questioning Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s recent criticism of the Centre on its move regarding Aadhaar cards, Left Front chairperson Biman Bose asked on Monday what her stand was on the issue when it was taken up by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government of which her party was then a part of.

“When the matter [Aadhaar issue] was brought up by the UPA government, the Left parties had protested against its many anomalies. But what was the stand of the Trinamool Congress then needs to be looked into,” said Mr. Bose, who is a Polit Bureau member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the party’s State Secretary.

Ms. Banerjee on November 1 slammed the Centre for its decision to make Aadhaar cards mandatory for availing government benefits, including cooking gas cylinders at subsidised rates.

‘Technical complications’

Accusing the Centre of trying to impose limitations on the number of subsidised LPG cylinders without clearing the Aadhaar card’s “technical complications”, Mr. Bose said, “We [Left Front] are strongly opposing the Centre’s ploy to take away the benefits of subsidised LPG cylinders from consumers.”

 “The benefits of subsidised cooking gas cylinders received by consumers at present cannot be taken away by any kind of trickery,” he said.

Pointing out that “universal rationing” has been the Left parties’ long-standing demand, he recalled the Supreme Court’s ruling on Aadhaar card where it said the Aadhaar card cannot become the sole requirement for receiving government benefits.

“The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance had also said that if government aids are regulated like this then such benefits would not reach the people,” said Mr. Bose.

‘Lack of transparency’

Alleging lack of transparency, he said a person has to collect his Aadhaar card to avail subsidised LPG cylinders.

The subsidy on the cylinders would then be deposited to the person’s bank account.

“But how will someone, who does not have a bank account, receive the benefits?” he asked.

4920 - SC ruling on Aadhaar-LPG unlikely to bring relief - TNN

SC ruling on Aadhaar-LPG unlikely to bring relief

Sribala Vadlapatla, TNN Nov 5, 2013, 04.08AM IST

HYDERABAD: The Supreme Court ruling that Aadhaar card cannot be made mandatory for people to get subsidy under the Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG consumer (DBTL) scheme is unlikely to provide relief as the ministry of petroleum and natural gas is planning to continue direct linkage of LPG connections with bank accounts, according to senior ministry officials.

Under the DBTL scheme, a consumer gets LPG cylinders at market price and the subsidy is transferred to the linked bank account for nine subsidised cylinders in a year. Consumers were also asked to link their Aadhaar cards to avail the subsidy. One of the major problems with the system was that many consumers were still to get their Aadhaar numbers. The apex court ruling proved a welcome step for them. However, with the petroleum ministry planning to continue the bank-LPG linkage, consumers would be forced to put up with the host of other problems plaguing the scheme.

Several consumers have failed to get the subsidy even after linking their Aadhaar numbers with the bank and gas dealer. "I linked my Aadhaar to my LPG connection in August before the scheme came into force. However, this has been of no use as no subsidy has been transferred for the three cylinders that I purchased," said P Sunita, a techie.

People are being made to pay the market price of Rs 1,096 per cylinder but many are not getting the money back as was promised. "The scheme is not of much use. They should directly sell the cylinders at the subsidised rate," said V Vishuvardhan Rao, a consumer.

Some consumers also pointed out that it is difficult to even check the status of the subsidy on the common portal of the three gas companies. "Sometimes, the portal does not show proper data," said S Raja Reddy, another consumer.

Meanwhile, officials said there was a delay in interlinking the bank accounts with the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI), which acts as the interface for transactions between various banks for LPG subsidy.

"The banks are taking more time than required to map the accounts of the customers to NPCI," official sources said.

"The subsidy pattern may be continued as it is easy to gather the consumer's bank details form gas agency," said a ministry official.

4919 - Fresh roadblock for Aadhaar - TNN

Fresh roadblock for Aadhaar

Ajanta Chakraborty, TNN Nov 5, 2013, 01.35AM IST

KOLKATA: Get set for a fresh round of confusion if you still haven't got your Aadhaar. The decision to set up enrolment camps at LPG distribution centres in Kolkata, Howrah and Cooch Behar has been put on hold after chief minister Mamata Banerjee's call for a "rethink" on the direct-benefit-transfer for LPG scheme.

The decision to set up Aadhaar enrolment camps at LPG distribution centres in Kolkata, Howrah and Cooch Behar has been put on hold now that chief minister Mamata Banerjee has called for a rethink on the direct-benefit-transfer (DBT) for LPG scheme.

On Friday, the chief minister had said Aadhaar must not be made compulsory for receiving LPG gas subsidy. More than a month back, the Supreme Court had dealt a crippling blow to the UPA's showpiece project by ruling that it could only be issued to those with proven Indian nationality and cannot be made mandatory for accessing public services and subsidies.

The problem is, the petroleum ministry is determined to go ahead with the scheme, leaving lakhs of consumers in the lurch. The ministry insists on making the current system of subsidized gas cylinders valid for non-Aadhaar-linked consumers only for the next three months.

Under the circumstances, the only ray of hope for the lakhs in Bengal who haven't yet got the Aadhaar is the next Supreme Court hearing on November 12.

On September 18, at the first-ever comprehensive meeting at Writers' Buildings on linking the Aadhaar number to the LPG subsidy, all stakeholders had agreed to set up enrolment camps at 46 LPG distribution centres in the three Bengal districts where the scheme was due to be launched from November 1. Only 68% of Kolkata residents are Aadhaar-registered and, according to data available with the oil companies, there are over 12 lakh LPG consumers in the city.

But now, the registrar general of India and the census directorate have referred Mamata's stance to the ministry of home affairs, along with similar views aired by Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa (she has already shot off a letter against the direct benefit transfer scheme to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh).

Considering the two CMs' strong opposition to the petroleum ministry's decision to bulldoze direct benefit transfer despite the Supreme Court ruling, the MHA has deferred setting up camps at LPG distribution centres, said sources.

In the backdrop of the apex court ruling and the petroleum ministry's insistence that after the grace period of three months, a person who does not have an Aadhaar can no longer receive LPG subsidy, Mamata, while saying that the Aadhaar cannot be made mandatory for subsidy, she also threatened to ghearao the IOC regional headquarters in Kolkata.

Her government is also likely to voice its stance at a meeting with petroleum ministry representatives on November 11 at Nabanna, where officials from the registrar-general of India's office and the census directorate and oil companies will be present, said sources.

In both Bengal and Tamil Nadu, the National Population Register (NPR)-based registration is being implemented through the census directorate, under the MHA. Confusion and slow-paced implementation has been prevailing as the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) - under the Planning Commission - has been entrusted with issuing the 12-digit Aadhaar number in several states.

Sushanta Mukherjee, president, West Bengal LPG Distributors Association, said: "We wonder when the camps will come up. They would have ensured maximum enrolment of Aadhaar." An oil company source added: "We are ready to provide the space for the enrolment camps, but the onus of the enrolment lies with the NPR. UIDAI has been organizing these camps, which would have gone a long way in the Aadhaar rollout. All the consumer would have done was to come to the centres with the blue books and Aadhaar numbers would have been issued."