The DMK which opposed linking Aadhar to various schemes when the BJP government at the Centre pushed for it, is now pushing Aadhar aggressively for state government schemes. This article is intended to call out the double standards of the MK Stalin-led DMK.
M.K. Stalin, who was then the opposition leader, opposed the plan to link the subsidy for cooking gas cylinders to Aadhaar in 2016 and claimed it would be difficult for the poor, particularly women.
Not only did he oppose the move to link Aadhar with central government schemes when he was in opposition, but also Chief Minister MK Stalin had recently opposed the Election Commission’s move to link Aadhar with voter ID to weed out multiple votes for a person.
However, after assuming power the DMK government under MK Stalin’s leadership has vigorously used Aadhar than the BJP for various state government schemes. Here is a list of state schemes that the DMK government under MK Stalin has made Aadhar mandatory.
Labor welfare and skill development department
This department is administering the welfare schemes to the unorganized workers of Tamil Nadu which are being implemented through the Tamil Nadu Manual Workers Social Security Welfare Board and 15 other Welfare Boards. The department has made Aadhaar mandatory for an individual eligible to receive benefits under the schemes. The notification is dated September 1, 2021.
Health and family welfare department
According to the DMK government notification dated 25th October 2021, any person registering end-stage organ failure patients waiting for cadaver organs in the Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu registry will be required to produce Aadhar. Also, an Aadhar card is compulsory for the transfer of wait-listed patients from one hospital to another and the registration of deceased organ donors.
| Social welfare and women empowerment department: |
According to the notification of the DMK government dated 16th November 2021, the beneficiaries of schemes like Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS), Differently Abled Pension Scheme (DAPS), Destitute Widow Pension Scheme (DWPS), Destitute / Deserted Wives Pension Scheme (DDWPS), Chief Minister’s Uzhavar Padhukappu Thittam (CMUPT), and Pension to Poor Unmarried Women of age 50 years and above (UWP), who receive a sum of Rs.1,000/- per month is required to furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar number or undergo Aadhaar authentication.
Adi Dravidar and tribal welfare department
The SC/ST students getting State Post Matric Scholarship, those getting free education up to Post Graduate level (Women) belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Caste students converted to Christianity students are required to furnish Aadhar details according to the notification of DMK government dated 1st December 2021.
Tamil Nadu health systems project
On February 11, 2022, the DMK government made Aadhar mandatory for Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme Integrated with Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
Backward classes, most backward classes, and minorities welfare department
The department has made Aadhar mandatory for various schemes like Free Education Scholarships to Degree Level, Free Education Scholarships to Polytechnic Level, and Free Education Scholarships to Professional Level for BC, MBC, and Denotified Community students based on a notification dated March 23, 2022.
Labor welfare and skill development department
As per the notification dated 30th May 2022, the department mandates Aadhar for Tamil Nadu Manual Workers Welfare Scheme.
Youth welfare and sports development department
Notification dated 31st May 2022 made Aadhar mandatory for the following schemes:
Special Scholarship for Elite Sportspersons (ESP),
Special Scholarship for Mission International Medal Scheme (MIMS),
Special Scholarship for Champion Development Scheme (CDS),
High Cash Incentive to the medal winners in the National and International level competitions,
Prize Money to the first three winners in the State Games for Chief Minster’s Trophy,
Prize money to Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu competitions,
Cash Award to Chief Minister’s State Sports Award
Cash Award to Chief Minister’s State Youth Award
Agriculture and farmers welfare department
Aadhar has become a requirement for 19 programs run by the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, including the National Agriculture Development Programme (NADP), the National Food Security Mission (NFSM), and the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil (NMEO). The notification was dated 8/6/2022.
Social welfare and women empowerment department
Notification dated 19th October 2022, made Aadhar mandatory for the following schemes under the department:
E.V.R Maniyammaiyar Memorial Widow’s Daughter Marriage Assistance Scheme
Annai Theresa Memorial Orphan Girls Marriage Assistance Scheme.
Dr. Dharmambal Ammaiyar Memorial Widow Remarriage Assistance Scheme.
Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Memorial Inter-caste Marriage Assistance Scheme.
On 29th July 2022, the DMK government made Aadhar mandatory for the registration of birth and death. In addition, various schemes under the different ministry have made Aadhar mandatory to become the beneficiary of the scheme. The most recent example is where Aadhar is linked with electricity connection in Tamil Nadu.
It is worth noting that except for the GST amendment, in which Aadhaar was required for GST registration, all notifications issued to date have been by bureaucrats and have not involved any sort of interaction with the assembly.
This demonstrates how hard the DMK government has pushed for the integration of state government programs with Aadhar.
(With inputs from Srikanth.CashlessConsumer )
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