Niti wants to link Aadhaar with students’ scholarships

Having dragged its feet in formulating the mid-term appraisal of the 12th Five Year Plan for the past two years, the Niti Aayog has now completed the last minute exercise of preparing a complete assessment report of the Plan period as it ended on March 31, 2017.

The report envisions compulsory registration for all domestic NGOs with the government; otherwise allotment of grants could become difficult for them. It also emphasised that Aadhaar should be linked with other hitherto untouched areas like students’ scholarships, primarily with the idea of doing away with intermediaries in public dealings.

The final assessment report is likely to be approved by the PMO this month, sources aware of the developments, told this newspaper.

They added the government think-tank — in the assessment report — has taken into consideration the status of the fulfilment of physical and financial targets of the 12th Plan period while preparing a roadmap for the future. It has also underlined the need for all domestic NGOs to register themselves with the Centre.

As of now, NGOs voluntarily register themselves, though sources said Niti Aayog has made it clear that unless every domestic NGO does not register themselves with the government, they will not get the Central grants.

Also with Aadhaar registration already reaching the 100-crore mark, sources said that in the assessment report, the Aayog’s 12th Plan period assessment report says that Aadhaar linkage should also cover scholarships for students, as this will reduce paperwork and help in doing away with intermediaries.

While Aadhaar has been linked to LPG subsidy, efforts are afoot to link it to other subsidised items like kerosene and public distribution system.

The government thinktank is also of the view that states should ensure that a greater financial autonomy is provided to local self-government institutions.