The decision to embed Aadhar number to bank accounts for payment under various schemes without completing the distribution of cards will adversely affect the disbursal of pension and other benefits to government and retired employees.
Aadhar number has been made mandatory for all payments from Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Organisation. This came into effect from January 1, 2013, even though Aadhar numbers have not yet been received by all the people in the state.
Now, there is a provision to register for Aadhar along with the National Population Register (NPR). NPR is also moving at a slow pace in some of the districts due to shortage of staff.
Directorate of Census Operations deputy director Rajeev said that NPR registration for 62 per cent of the eligible population had been completed in the state. It had been totally completed in the districts of Palakkad and Pattanamthitta and almost complete in Kottayam and Wayanad districts.
‘’Aadhar generation had been completed for 78 lakh citizens in Kerala along with NPR. The distribution process of the cards is continuing and it will reach the people soon,’’ Rajeev said.
Regarding the payments through banks, Rajeev said that e-Aadhar is already available in the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDA) website. It can be downloaded from the website.
For attaching the Aadhar number to bank accounts, the e-Aadhar can be used which is available on the website. There is no need for the card now and the number is easily available.
Rajeev said that the NPR would cover 10 districts in the state by June this year. Around 80 per cent of the people will be covered by that time.
NPR process is lagging at Malappuram, Kollam, Kasargod and Alappuzha districts. It has been directed to speed up the work in these districts and complete the coverage on time, he said.
Korath V Mathew, senior state project coordinator, Unique Identification Authority of India, said that steps had been taken to provide e-Aadhar through Akshaya centres. Around 2.2 crore Aadhar registrations have been completed. It is now on the process of distribution and will be available to the citizens soon. Around 93 per cent registration have been completed, he said.