Government Plans To Accelerate Aadhaar Enrolments In Kashmir To Ensure Maximum Coverage Of Central Schemes

In a bid to ensure that benefits of welfare schemes reach to all residents of Jammu and Kashmir, the Modi government is planning to intensify the Aadhaar enrolments in the erstwhile state, especially in the Kashmir valley where the penetration of the unique ID is low, reports Hindustan Times.

According to the report, the process will gain momentum once the bifurcation of the region into two union territories is complete on 31 October, government officials said.

“Aadhaar is a successful tool for the transfer of subsidies and implementation of welfare schemes. The government is committed for development of J&K, and Aadhaar will be one of the key tools that will help the Centre in fulfilling its commitment,” one of the officials was quoted in the report as saying.

As per the report, J&K has an Aadhaar coverage of about 78 per cent. However, certain areas, mainly in the Kashmir valley have very low penetration. A second official was cited in the report as saying that the areas in the Valley need special attention, which can be done through banks, post offices and common service centres (CSCs).

For this purpose, the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) is willing to open CSCs at panchayats for this purpose, the second official added.

“An intensive campaign [for Aadhaar enrolment] is expected after 31 October and CSCs need no more than a week to launch it in the entire J&K,” the first official said.

The purpose of the government behind the move is to ensure that benefits of the central schemes reach to every household in the Valley, the first official said.