- Nov 15, 2014 - Vivek Bhavsar | Mumbai
The state government has proposed to link ration cards with Aadhar numbers to enhance the Public Distribution System
The Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government in the state is keen on pushing the UPA government’s flagship food security scheme, but in a new manner. It has proposed to link ration cards with Aadhar numbers to enhance the Public Distribution System (PDS).
“On the lines of the Narendra Modi-led Union government, the state government has shown keen interest in continuing the food security scheme in the state by plugging the loopholes within PDS,” said Deepak Kapoor, secretary, food and civil supply.
The administration decided that at a time four departments will make a presentation before the Cabinet. “We are ready at any time to give our presentation,” said Mr Kapoor.
“We will try to split the presentation in three modes — the function of the food and civil supply and its schemes, the financial scenario and its future plans, which can be changed after suggestions from the minister of the department or by the Cabinet,” he added.
“In its presentation, the department will suggest linking ration cards with Aadhaar numbers to ensure that the true cardholder gets the benefit of the scheme,” he further added.
Mr Kapoor also said that at present, there are seven crore Below Poverty Level (BPL) and 1.80 crore Above Poverty Level (APL) beneficiaries across the state. Also, 2.32 crore ration card are digitised with the department. “At least these can be linked with Aadhaar with immediate effect if the Cabinet decides so,” he said.
Agreeing with Mr Kapoor, Virendra Singh, director of the Information and Technology (IT) department said that they are ready to link Aadhaar numbers with ration card holders at any time.
“We have enrolled 9.3 crore citizens for Aadhaar while 8.6 crore cards have been generated till date. We have set a target to enrol more than 95 per cent population for Aadhaar before March 2015,” said Mr Singh.
Meanwhile, Mr Kapoor said that after getting Cabinet approval, they will launch a pilot scheme in two districts in which Wardha will be the one that is 100 per cent Aadhaar enrolled. The other district will be selected later.