Keep Aadhaar in abeyance

SHILLONG, SEPT 12: Opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) on Monday demanded that the state government keep in abeyance the implementation of Aadhaar enrolment in the state. Moving a call attention in the assembly, UDP MLA Titosstarwell Chyne said, “The government is urged to keep the implementation of Aadhaar in abeyance until the people of the state are fully aware on the benefit of Aadhaar Card.”

Also suggesting the need to examine the issue as there is a lot of feeling of insecurity among the people, Chyne said many organizations have raised their voice against the implementation of Aadhaar number.

“The apprehension is because of a provision which allows anyone residing for 182 days to enroll,” he said while also pointing out the problems faced by the students who are confused on seeing the notification directing them to submit Aadhaar number for availing their scholarships.

In her reply, Higher & Technical Education Minister Roshan Warjri informed the centre through Ministry of Tribal Affairs have communicated that it has now been decided that Aadhaar will  be used as identifier for all centrally funded scholarship schemes so as to facilitate direct and timely transfer of scholarships.

“However since the Aadhaar enrolment in the state is very low, students of the state were finding it difficult to register in the new scholarship portal launched in July,” she said.

Warjri said accordingly the chief minister had written to union ministers of Ministry of Minority Affairs, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Ministry of Human Resource Development appraising about the low enrolment status of Aadhaar in Meghalaya and requested to exempt the students from the state.

“Subsequently exemption was provided to the beneficiaries of the state to register in the national scholarship portal without Aadhaar, which was also widely publicized. Now students are able to register in NSP without Aadhaar,” she informed.

The minister also informed that the University Grants Commission has also been requested to accord similar exemption for applying PhD fellowship to the students of Meghalaya and the response is still awaited.-By Our Reporter