The UPA Government’s ‘game changer’ direct benefits transfer scheme, which rolled out from January 1, in 43 identified districts, has been facing its share of glitches.
The ‘deficiencies and technical failures” that have come to the notice of the Government include seeding of beneficiary databases and bank accounts with Aadhaar numbers and delay in sharing Aadhaar seeded records onto the National Payment Corporation of India portal by banks, Minister of State for Planning Rajeev Shukla told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Listing out some other problems, Shukla said these were related to availability of digitised databases of beneficiaries, time lag between Aadhaar enrolment and issue of letters or numbers, among other things.
The Minister said various measures had been taken for smooth roll-out of direct cash transfer in 26 listed schemes. These include the Planning Commission’s guidelines on seeding of Aadhaar numbers with beneficiaries’ database as well as their bank accounts, issued on January 8.
Not mandatory
In reply to another question, Shukla said enrolment for Aadhaar was voluntary and not mandatory. He, however, added that “It is for the implementing authorities to decide whether Aadhaar is mandatory for receiving a service.”
On a question whether teacher and civil employee salaries were being held back on account of not having Aadhaar numbers, Shukla said in Maharashtra, teacher and students had been asked top complete Aadhaar enrolments for making use of the benefits.
“The Government of Maharashtra has however assured all citizens that in any scheme, Aadhaar will not be made mandatory till 80 per cent enrolments in that district are done,” he added.