Welfare schemes for which Aadhaar is mandatory

‘Mint’ lists the government’s welfare schemes for which Aadhaar is mandatory to be able to receive the benefits

The government has issued several notifications in the last two weeks that mandate Aadhaar as a form of identification to be able to receive the benefits of various welfare schemes. Mint takes a look at some of these schemes, which come under various ministries.

Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

On 6 March , the government issued a notification, saying that any individual receiving cash rewards under the National Award Scheme for Innovations in Petrochemicals is required to furnish Aadhaar as a proof of identity. In case of lack of Aadhaar, he/she must enrol for it on or before 31 March 2017. Until then, no one will be denied the benefit and can produce an alternate source of proof in place of Aadhaar.

On the same day, there was another gazette notification, saying that compensation received by the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy will also require Aadhaar. For this scheme, the last date of enrolment for Aadhaar is 30 May 2017.

Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas

On 6 March, it was notified that all women belonging to below poverty line families getting a new liquified petroleum gas connection are required to provide Aadhaar in order to recover the expenditure and get subsidies under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana scheme . The last date for Aadhaar enrolment in case of this scheme is 31 March 2017.

Ministry of Social Justice and Employment

On 3 March, it was notified that all disabled people receiving cash benefits such as transport cost, boarding and lodging cost, conveyance cost, cost for post placement support under the Central Sector Scheme for Implementation of Persons with Disability Act, 1995 are required to furnish Aadhaar as a form of identity or enrol for it on or before 30 May 2017.

On the same day, it was notified that all cash benefits under the Central Sector Sponsorship Scheme for Disabled People will be received by people who provide Aadhaar or get enrolled for it on or before 30 May 2017.

Ministry of Human Resource Development

All salary and benefits paid for teaching and training out of the Consolidated Fund of India under two schemes—Scheme of Adult Education and Skill Development and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan—have been notified with Aadhaar on 3 and 2 March, respectively.

Mint reported earlier that the Mid-day Meal Scheme has also been brought under the list of notifications in the 28 February Gazette. The last date for enroling for Aadhaar is 30 June 2017 for it.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

On 28 February, the contractual staff working in different states and Union territories under the Nation Health Mission were asked to submit Aadhaar as a form of identity in order to receive remuneration. Alternate sources of proof can be given but the individual must get Aadhaar or enrol for it on or before 31 March 2017.

Ministry of Rural Development

Members of Self Help Groups were asked to serve Aadhaar for receiving remuneration under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission on 28 February in an official gazette. The last date to provide Aadhaar or enrol for it to avail the benefits is 30 September 2017.

Ministry of Women and Child Development

On 23 February, beneficiaries related to two schemes—Protection and Empowerment for Women and Swadhar Greh Scheme (the latter targeting women found in unfortunate circumstances) were also asked to furnish Aadhaar in order to avail benefits. The benefits include facilities like food, clothing, medical care and education. The deadlines given to the beneficiaries to produce Aadhaar or enrol for it under the two schemes are 30 September 2017 and 31 March 2017, respectively.

Aadhaar was also made mandatory for training and assistance provided for skill development for women under the Support to Training and Employment Programme (STEP) Scheme on 25 February. The deadline for Aadhaar enrolment for it is 30 June 2017.

Mint reported the government’s notification on the Integrated Child Development Scheme on 6 February—remuneration for the services rendered by the Aanganwadi workers and helpers will be given only if beneficiaries provide Aadhaar as a source of identity. The deadline for enroling to Aadhaar is 31 March 2017 for it.