NEW DELHI: The government on Monday said that it has not made Aadhaar mandatory to get work under rural employment guarantee scheme and if states want, it could consider extending the March 31 deadline notified for individuals registered under the MNREGA to apply for Aadhar enrolment.
Minister of Rural Development Narendra Singh Tomar replying to a question in Rajya Sabha said that ministry has said that any individual registered under the MGNREGA and have not yet enrolled for
Aadhaar shall have to apply for enrollment by March 31.
The opposition, however, insisted that in states Aadhaar has been made mandatory and people not having it are denied job under MNREGA.
Tomar said that it is not true and as far as March 31 deadline is concerned, it can be extended if states approach their problem in adhering to it.
Minister of State for Rural Development Ram Kirpal Yadav said with linking of Aadhaar with MNREGA, the government is trying to bring in more transparency and cleanliness in the implementation of the
job guarantee scheme.
“Nearly 80 percent of the people have gone for Aadhaar and the partnership of women in the scheme has also grown. The government has removed around 56 lakh names for whom money was being withdrawn fraudulently,” he said.