Aadhaar enrolments hit 100 cr; boost for welfare schemes: Govt

The government on Monday   said total Aadhaar enrolments have crossed the 100-crore mark, which will give a boost to various public welfare schemes and ensure that benefits are delivered directly to deserving masses. Speaking to reporters, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “Aadhaar crossing the 100-crore mark is indeed a momentous occasion...will give boost to government’s initiative of bringing a systematic change in the way services, subsidies and benefits will be directly delivered to the deserving masses.” 

Prasad added the government is quite open to bring more public services under the Aadhaar platfrom for a flawless delivery. On the financial impact of Aadhaar on various social sector schemes, he said the direct benefit transfer for LPG (DBTL) scheme led to savings worth Rs 14,672 crore for the government, while under the public distribution system, the estimated savings are to the tune of Rs 2,346 crore across 4 states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry and Delhi. The Minister said the government will persuade the Supreme Court to release more avenues for invocation of Aadhaar. 

“Earlier, there was no legal basis for Aadhaar initiative but now there is a proper law duly framed, that will go a long way in assuaging the concerns,” Prasad said.