SHILLONG, May 30: Against the backdrop of UIDAI’s circular of a three-month extension for Aadhaar enrolment for states, failing which the non-registered citizens may be unable to avail various central government subsidies and benefits, the office of the Development Commissioner, Government of Meghalaya, has appealed to all citizens of the state, who have not yet registered for Aadhaar, to get themselves registered at the earliest.
It may be noted that due to low Aadhaar coverage in Meghalaya, residents without Aadhaar number may soon be unable to avail several central government welfare schemes. The most affected lot in this regard will be women and children who will lose out on the Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) under ICDS of the Social Welfare department. In the absence of an Aadhaar number, they will receive only 10% of the supplementary nutrition for infants and children in the 0-6 years category, and pregnant and lactating mothers, from the next quarter onwards.
Moreover, in other schemes like Ayushman Bharat, being implemented in the state as Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS), Aadhaar is deemed as mandatory for any new enrolment.
Although Meghalaya had initially exempted its citizens from compulsory Aadhaar registrations, it is imperative to note that benefits of certain central governments may not be availed without Aadhaar number. There is an existing provision in section-7 of the Aadhaar Act to facilitate a person who has not been assigned an Aadhaar number, to avail of the benefits, subsidies, and services “through alternate and viable means of identification for delivery of the subsidy, benefit or service,”.
Therefore, in order to ramp up the efforts in an attempt to be able to cover all residents of the state to avail central government welfare schemes, the “50 days Aadhaar saturation programme” is being launched in the state. This is being done mostly in an effort to reach out and enroll newborns, infants, children, women and all others who do not yet have an Aadhaar number. Especially in the category of newborns, infants and toddlers in the age group of 0-6 years, on account of very low Aadhaar enrolment, seeding and coverage through various schemes is dismal as the enrolment is just about 10-12%, the office of the Development Commissioner said in a statement.
Emphasis will be laid on Aadhaar registration of children below 5 years of age. It may be mentioned that biometrics of children below 5 years are not required for Aadhaar registration. In addition, children without birth certificates will also be provided support under the “50 days Aadhar saturation programme” of the state.
