The Supreme Court’s adverse comment on linking several services mandatorily with UID based Aadhaar number seems to be no deterrent for the Jharkhand Government. The Cabinet on Thursday brought as many as 15 services which can be availed only through the 12-digit unique number. The services name the likes of property registration of any kind, issuance of pension and for getting Indira Awas Yojna benefit.
Informing about the decision, Cabinet Secretary JB Tubid said that the Cabinet has also approved another list of services for which the UID number would be optional. “Uses of Aadhar number have been made mandatory for registration of property, getting pension, name in BPl list, Indira Awas and others. For about 12 other kind of services Aadhar has been made optional,” said Tubid.
Mid-day meal, MGNREGA, Viveknanda disabled scholarship and Anganwadi are some of the services which figure in the optional list. Nevertheless the decision has come with a rider and also a sigh of relief for those who do not have the unique identity card.
“If a person does not have the Aadhar card he/she has to give in writing about this. Anyone cannot be deprived of the services in case the card has not been issued to him,” clarified the Cabinet Secretary.Notably, the apex court had struck down the provision of linking services like lPG subsidy through the UID mandatorily. The erstwhile Jharkhand Chief Secretary RS Sharma is known for his fondness for Aadhaar.
Besides, the Cabinet also approved 10 per cent hike in Dearness Allowance for its employees and pensioners. The new rate of DA would be 100 per cent in place of present 90 and has been made applicable from January 1, 2014. The 17th meeting of the Cabinet approved as many as 42 proposals from various departments.
The Cabinet also raised estimate for urban drinking water supply scheme under JNNURM from present Rs 28839.12 lakh to Rs 37306.42 lakh. Also the Government has okayed appointments of eight dentists through the JPSC. 27 such doctors have already been appointed in various hospitals across the State.
Staff Selection Commission, Backward Class Commission and Jharkhand Information Commission have been linked with Jharkhand Secretariat Service. With this, the staffs of Secretariat service can be appointed in these commissions and vice versa. The Cabinet also cleared to form an appellate authority by amending Wealth Tax Council guideline 2013. The authority would have one chairperson and two members.
“The Cabinet has decided to exempt lIC from paying stamp duty considering shortage of stamps. Instead for endorsements it would have to pay tax in advance,” added Tubid. Jharwater, the body working for water management, would now be headed by the Departmental Minister who can appoint two other MlAs into this. Incumbent head of ‘Jharwater’ Development Commissioner would act as its member.
The Government has also given power to District Boards in the appointments of Jansevaks. Now DDCs would be the appointing official in place of DCs. However, the DCs have been empowered to allot lands required for implementing drinking water supply schemes and the matter need not required to be brought before the Cabinet.
Other Highlights
* 19.04 acre of land allotted on lease to ICAR’s Agri Science Centre, Ramgarh free of cost
* Retirement age of teachers in BAU raised from 62 to 65 years
* Dependents of PDS shop owners to get shop in case of death
* Additional Rs 510 cr issued for 17 IAP districts
* Finance Dept to be nodal office for Finance Commission in place of Panchayati Raj Dept
* Committee of CS and Departmental Secretary to decide time bound promotion