CHANDIGARH: As Chandigarh attains 100 per cent Aadhaar saturation, Punjab governor and Chandigarh administrator VP Singh Badnore today called upon the youth especially the students to ensure Chandigarh as the first cashless city of India.
Addressing a function to mark the celebration of Chandigarh attaining 100 per cent Aadhaar saturation as per the estimated population figure of 2015 at Punjab Engineering College, Badnore said that the population of Chandigarh being educated would understand the meaning of demonetisation in the true spirit and thereby strive to make Chandigarh as India’s first cashless city. Accepting this challenge, a number of educational institutions have already initiated the procedure to make it cashless, said the Governor.
Badnore called upon the youth especially the students of Chandigarh to be the real “Demonetisation Soldiers”. He said that as many as one lakh students from all over the city would be technical educated about demonetisation and would be known as “Demonetisation Soldiers” These demonetisation soldiers would subsequently teach equal number of traders, small shop owners, Rehriwalas etc to encourage them to switch to a digital mode of payments and go cashless to rein in corruption. He further said that the students should be given clear cut demonetisation goals that are quantifiable to encourage the competitive spirit amongst the students, culminating in suitable rewards or recognition.
To encourage the educational institutions to come forward and contribute in making demonetisation a success, Badnore also announced holding of competitions, debates, declamations and other contests where winners, in recognition to their efforts, would be awarded.
Referring to the Aadhaar initiative, he said that uniqueness of Aadhaar identity allows elimination of fake and duplicate accounts, and online authentication provides a mechanism for paperless, electronic and instantaneous verification of identity, anytime anywhere. He also said that to ensure absolute transparency, the Union government has also linked Aadhaar with various Central schemes such as MGNREGA, National Social Assistance Program (Pension Schemes), Public Distribution System, Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG, Prime Minister's Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) and Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
Underlying the benefits of an Aadhaar saturated society, he said that besides enabling the public to avail the benefits of various welfare schemes and projects, the Aadhaar details could help in detecting crime even from across the State.
Speaking on the occasion, MP Kirron Kher congratulated the citizens, administration and Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) officials for the achievement.
Ram Subhag Singh, deputy director general, UIDAI Regional Office thanked the administration for linking Aadhaar with various schemes to ensure effective and smooth delivery of payments to the intended beneficiaries by ensuring transparency.
UIDAI will now focus on expediting Aadhaar enrolment in the age group of 0-5 years and 5- 18 years, he said.