Tamil Nadu government makes Aadhaar a must for all of its schemes

The Treasuries and Accounts Department, through its implementing agency, would offer Aadhaar enrolment facilities for the beneficiaries who are not yet enrolled.

The Tamil Nadu government has announced that all those who are eligible for benefits (other than minor children) under various government schemes are required to submit proof of possession of an Aadhaar number or undergo Aadhaar identification.

An order, issued by Finance Secretary N. Muruganandam on December 15, contended that “Aadhaar as an identity document for delivery of services or benefits or subsidies simplifies the government delivery process...it brings in transparency and efficiency, and enables beneficiaries to get their entitlements directly in a convenient and seamless manner by obviating the need to produce multiple documents to prove one’s identity.”

According to the order, Aadhaar is mandatory for government employees, government pensioners and beneficiaries of various schemes implemented by the State government through various Departments by their implementing agencies.

Any individual desirous of availing himself of benefits, but does not possess an Aadhaar number or has not yet enrolled for Aadhaar, shall be required to make an application for Aadhaar enrolment before registering for the “Scheme.”

The ‘Scheme’, according to the order, is IFHRM-integrated financial and human management system, administered by the Treasuries and Accounts Department, to make online payments of bills and payments to beneficiaries through ECS.

The government said that if a beneficiary has enrolled, (s)he should produce an Aadhaar enrolment identification slip and any one of the documents, including a bank or post office passbook, with a photo or PAN card or passport, or ration card, or voter identity card or MGNREGA card or Kissan Photo Passbook or driving licence or certificate of identity having photo issued by the gazetted officer or tehsildar or any other document as specified by the government.