Note Aadhaar holders: Karnataka nods making Aadhaar must to avail benefits

Bangalore, January 3: Karnataka gave nod making Aadhaar must for citizens to vail services. The Karnataka State Aadhaar Bill 2017 aims to ensure government schemes must benefit genuine beneficiaries. 

The Karnataka State Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2017 was approved by the state cabinet. The Bill has been modelled after the ones enacted in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana. The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (Central Act), allows states to enact a legislation of their own to make use of the 12-digit unique number as they require.

"The Centre already has an Aadhaar Act. We are also bringing in legislation to ensure government schemes reach genuine beneficiaries," Law Minister T B Jayachandra said during Cabinet meeting. The Bill set to be tabled in the budget session next month.

At present, Aadhaar is being used chiefly by the Food and Civil Supplies Department for the Public Distribution System, the Education Department for its Student Achievement Tracking System and the Revenue department for Parihara, a Direct Benefit Transfer scheme for farmers.

No person should suffer because one does not have an Aadhaar number, the Supreme Court has repeatedly stated. The Apex court has held that Aadhaar could not be made mandatory to avail benefits and government schemes, except for specific schemes such as LPG, ration, MNREGA, National Social Assistance Programme, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and the EPFO.