With enhanced technology, this is way forward
The Supreme Court's directive that the Centre cannot make Aadhaar mandatory for those who are beneficiaries of various social sector schemes, should not be taken as a setback for the Union Government. While it is true that the Modi Government is seeking to extend the use of the unique identification number to various projects with a view to ensuring transparency and checking leakages, it's also a fact that the relevant law already has a provision to not deny social welfare benefits to the needy for want of an Aadhaar card. At the same time, the Government's intention is to eventually ensure an Aadhaar card for everyone and then link it to the benefits. Section 7 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, is clear that until an Aadhaar number is assigned to the targeted individual, he or she can continue to avail the benefits. This much even the Centre has clarified time and again. To this extent, therefore, the apex court's directive is only a reiteration of the Union Government's stated position. The court, however, gave the green signal to the Government's drive to make Aadhaar mandatory for opening banks accounts, applying for Permanent Account Number (PAN) or filing income tax returns. It also pushed for a later, unspecified date on hearing the validity the Aadhaar regime itself, though acknowledging that a permanent solution to the issue must come. It's strange that the Congress, which had piloted the Aadhaar project, is seeking to discover loopholes now. Admittedly, the Bharatiya Janata Party had had reservations when the Aadhaar idea came up before Parliament and the Congress-led UPA regime set up the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) with noted entrepreneur Nandan Nilekani as its head. But after the NDA Government took over, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the project, had a long chat with Nilekani and decided to not just retain the system but also expand and strengthen it to fit it into into his larger plan of using technology to reach the beneficiaries in a time-bound and efficient manner. Revamping the subsidy system has been one of the Government's priorities, and the results are showing in many areas, such as food grain and cooking gas. Congress leader Kapil Sibal's accusation that the Government is trying to peep into the personal affairs of citizens by linking the filing of tax returns and PAN to Aadhaar, is a bit alarmist. There have been privacy concerns but those can be met, and are being met. As of now, the fear is only theoretical in nature. It's difficult to understand how there will be personal snooping if the Government links Aadhaar with the opening of bank accounts or PAN. The Congress's stand that it had brought in Aadhaar to positively impact the public distribution system, betrays a lack of appreciation of the unique identification number's potential to bring massive changes in the social welfare sector as a whole — and even beyond, into education, for instance.