Aadhar enrolment date for MGNREGA beneficiaries may be extended: Govt

Government on Monday said it could consider extending the March 31 deadline notified for individuals registered under the rural employment guarantee scheme to apply for Aadhar enrolment, if states wanted it.

Replying to a question during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha, Minister of Rural Development Narendra Singh Tomar said his ministry had on January 3 notified that any individual registered under the MGNREGA, who is not yet enrolled for Aadhar, shall have to apply for enrolment by March 31.

As opposition members said that the notification has made Aadhar card mandatory, Tomar said the government has not made Aadhar mandatory to get work under MGNREGA.

Opposition members including Congress member Renuka Chowdhury said that as per the "ground reality", not all people may have the Aadhar card. To this, Rural Development minister said if problems are being faced by any state in this regard, the government could consider extending the deadline.

Tomar said the ministry had issued the notification keeping in mind the directions of the Supreme Court.