STATES DEFY SC RULING TO MAKE AADHAAR A MUST IN KEY SCHEMES

NEW DELHI: Some state governments havemadetheuniqueidentification, or Aadhaar, number mandatory for basic rights such as employment under a rural jobs scheme and electoral enrolment despite a Supreme Court order that the 12-digit biometric number is not necessary for government entitlements.

Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan are some of the states that have prescribed the Aadhaar number to get government entitlements from April 1, the start of the financial year. On March 24, the apex court told the Centre to withdraw all instructions linking public service with Aadhaar.

But the states have been in overdrive after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked chief ministers to ensure that all schemes are Aadhaar-based to check leakages and ensure proper monitoring at a meeting of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog in February.

Madhya Pradesh has instructions that no enrollment for the Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme will be made from April 1 unless the applicant has enrolled for Aadhaar or has a unique identification number.

“The NREGA management information system in MP is refusing to accept work demands unless the Aadhaar or enrollment number is given. This blatantly illegal denial of work and contempt of SC orders is another attempt to derail NREGA,” said Reetika Khera, who has written several books on the job guarantee scheme.

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