UIDAI CEO: Denial of benefit over lack of Aadhaar is violation of norms

Aadhar card or unique identification number has become essential in the life of any Indian citizen.It is not new as Aadhaar has become the basis to avail most of the government schemes, including income tax returns, government subsidies, scholarships and even mid-day meals at schools. Many people are facing problem due to non availability of Aadhaar.Now a new statement over this came by UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan, he said denial of government benefits because of lack of Aadhaar or problems in its authentication is a violation of norms and the violators should be punished.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is responsible for issuing Aadhaar.This 12 digit unique-identity number issued to all residents of India based on their biometric and demographic data. The data is collected by the Unique Identification Authority of India. UIDAI was initially set up by the Government January 2009 and Aadhar number was started distributing in September 2010.

He further terms the activists claims targeting Aadhaar as statements made with "malafide intent"."Their inferences arise from a skewed approach and draw misconstrued interpretations to pass off incorrect assumptions on Aadhaar," Pandey said in an e-mailed statement. He termed Aadhaar as a technology for people's empowerment and not as a tool for exclusion or denial. He also stated that 116 crore people have the 12-digit unique identification number and almost 99 per cent adults have been covered under it, and the Aadhaar Act itself "mandates that not even one person be denied of benefits for the lack of Aadhaar". He said this regulation is to cast a "responsibility" on the agency requiring the identification number to enroll its beneficiary and provide the individual with benefits till the person is given Aadhaar.

The Act also provides for statutory protection to those who are unable to authenticate because of worn-out fingerprints or other reasons such as technical faults. Pandey clarified that in case a person has difficulty in getting fingerprints authenticated on a machine, he and she has the option to provide a copy of the Aadhaar card and can receive the benefits till the system is rectified.

To claim that Aadhaar is responsible for the denial of benefits is nothing but a "misconstrued fact presented with malafide intent", Pandey said.
He further pointed out that overall the system brings greater accountability and empowerment as it makes impersonation and denial of rights more difficult.