The Aadhaar seeding under National Social Assistance Program (NSAP) in Chandigarh is 100 per cent followed by 39.47 per cent in Himachal and 22.20 per centin Punjab.
A meeting was convened by the Union Ministry of Rural Development on Thursday at UT Guest House here to review the progress of ‘Digitisation and Aadhaar seeding’ in respect of NSAP in States of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Chandigarh.The meeting was jointly chaired by Keshni Anand Arora, Deputy Director General, UIDAI, RO Chandigarh and Vijaya Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Rural Development. The meeting was attended by senior bureaucrats of Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
During the meeting, it was informed that the digitisation and seeding in respect to Chandigarh is 100 per cent. The pensions to all the beneficiaries under NSAP are being credited in their bank accounts and are being disbursed using Aadhaar Enabled payment System.
Aadhaar generation under RO Chandigarh has crossed 85 percent. Aadhaar generation is 95.4 per cent in Himachal, 91.3 per cent in Chandigarh, 89.6 per cent in Punjab and 79 per cent in Haryana.
Vijaya Srivastava, Joint Secretary, MoRD appreciated the efforts made by the Administration for remarkable outcome and said that the disbursal of pensions under this initiative has resulted in opening up of bank accounts of target beneficiaries and they have been brought under financial inclusion which has long been envisaged by the Centre.
She said, “It has also observed that beneficiaries, especially women beneficiaries have started to feel a sense of empowerment”.
Elaborating on the benefits of integrating Aadhaar with identified schemes under NSAP, Arora said, it will ensure effective and smooth delivery of payments to the intended beneficiaries and will also remove ‘fakes and ghost’ beneficiaries from list.
Adding to it, Srivastava, stated that Aadhaar linking in NSAP will help in identifying right beneficiaries, avoid duplication and prevent leakages.
DDG, UIDAI, RO-Chandigarh also urged the states to accelerate seeding of Aadhaar under NSAP schemes in their respective States. Arora said to improve seeding of Aadhaar multiple channels must be leveraged including establishing of special camps to collect and seed Aadhaar of beneficiaries.
Arora said beneficiaries who have not received their Aadhaar letter may get a copy of e-Aadhaar from Suvidha Centres in Punjab, lok Mitra Kendras in Himachal and Sampark Centres in Chandigarh. E-Aadhaar has the same validity as that of Aadhaar received via post.