The government has promised to throw its weight behind the unique identification process through the Aadhaar card. Having stated this unequivocally in the Budget, it must move quickly to give the Aadhaar card scheme legislative teeth. The idea being floated of a new bill being introduced as a money bill and hence not requiring a majority vote in the Rajya Sabha, where the government is in a minority, is a practical way out.
The transformational agenda of the government may be dependent on passing on the benefits to the rural and agriculture sectors, including through MGNREGA. It is incumbent then on the government to clear the misgivings of the Supreme Court in comprehensive legislation.
It would make sense if the national ID card is made compulsory and Aadhaar covers the entire population — about 98 crore of 125 crore to 130 crore people have been covered thus far. There are weaknesses in the old act that need rectification. An issue of greater importance is the concern over “personal liberty” being considered by the top court with regard to the collection of demographic and biometric data.
Even so, the court did allow the voluntary use of the card for availing various welfare schemes. It looked great in principle but the pace of generating Aadhaar numbers got so bogged down that people had to take time off from work in the city for weeks on end to get home to rural families and ensure they got the PDS, LPG and other benefits. Now that the NDA backs Aadhaar, they must work quickly on a new bill and straighten out process to cover the last mile.
