Paving the way for the use of Aadhaar-based Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in State government schemes, the State government has decided to introduce the Karnataka Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, or Aadhaar Bill, in the State legislature session in February.

Currently, only Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Haryana — all ruled by BJP governments — have passed their respective State Acts, while Bihar is in the process of enacting its Act.

Briefing presspersons after a Cabinet meeting here on Tuesday, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra said the law will enable departments to notify Aadhaar as a major document to avail benefits under State government schemes.

Till now, only Central schemes or schemes that received funds from the Centre such as MNREGA, social pension, scholarship, PDS and LPG connections, among others had Aadhaar as one of the documents for proof of identity.

The Union government, which has implemented Aadhaar-based DBT for its schemes, has been pushing the State governments to implement the same for the State funded/run schemes for better resource utilisation.

Explaining the process, sources in the government said once the Act comes into force, respective departments that administer State government schemes will have to issue notification enabling Aadhaar as one of the documents.

“Using Aadhaar, funds can be channelised well and leakages can be stopped. This will also help reach government schemes to the deserving people.”

Using Aadhaar, funds can be channelised well and leakages can be stopped. This will also help reach government schemes to the deserving people

T.B. Jayachandra

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/aadhaar-to-be-mandatory-for-state-govt-schemes/article22355594.ece