Punjab Government has notified the process to link Aadhaar number of beneficiaries of the Dependent Children Scheme, getting financial assistance, with their bank accounts to bring more transparency and efficiency in the public delivery system.
Social Security and Women and Child Development Minister Aruna Chaudhary on Wednesday said that the use of Aadhaar as an identity document for delivery of services will avoid multiple documents for identification and simplify the government delivery processes. At the same time, she said that it will enable beneficiaries to get their entitlements directly in a convenient and seamless manner.
The Minister categorically affirmed that the Social Security and Women and Child Development Department would offer Aadhaar enrolment facilities for the beneficiaries, who are not yet enrolled for Aadhaar and in case there is no Aadhaar enrolment centre located in the respective Block or Tehsil.
“Under the Dependent Children Scheme, the child below the age of 21 years, whose mother or father or both have passed away or parents regularly absent from home or physically or mentally incapacitated to look after the family, is getting Rs 750 per month. The State Government has been providing financial assistance to the tune of Rs 104.12 crore to 1,56,169 dependent children up till November 2020 under the scheme,” she said adding that the child desirous of availing the benefit shall be required to furnish Aadhaar number for authentication.