In Punjab, Aadhaar card trouble for cash transfer scheme

As the Centre races to launch its flagship Direct Cash Transfer programme from January 1, the low concentration of Aadhaar card database in the identified 51 districts, including Nawanshahr in Punjab, has become a cause of major concern.

The programme, under which cash subsidy will be transferred electronically in bank accounts directly, is to be linked to Aadhaar card of beneficiaries. However, sources say the expected beneficiaries are facing harassment and confusion as agencies appointed for making the cards are racing against time to achieve 100 per cent target, particularly in rural areas of the district.

They say the inadequate arrangements and frequent change in the proforma required for the Aadhaar card are the major reasons behind the harassment and confusion.

While most of the beneficiaries do not have verified digitised Aadhaar-card, some, who have this, are yet to get it linked to their bank accounts. While Centre has called for covering 34 welfare schemes under the programme, in Punjab, only 11 schemes, included school and college scholarships and Janani Suraksha Yojana, will be covered.

Of nearly 22, 677 beneficiaries under these 11 schemes in the district, only 50 per cent have been issued the Aadhar cards in last over two weeks. To cover the

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