Shillong, Apr 9: The state government has made it clear that it had no say in the mandatory Aadhaar linkage to avail various beneficiary-oriented schemes.
Reacting to reports of protests on the issue, cabinet minister and government spokesperson Ampareen Lyngdoh on Wednesday said, “It is totally incorrect to blame the state government for Aadhaar linkage for several beneficiary-oriented schemes.”
On the protest staged by Awaken India Movement, Meghalaya against Aadhaar linkage, the minister said, “It is incorrect to assign this problem to MDA-I or MDA-2 or any political party.”
She also reminded about the Government of India remaining silent to a request made by the state government in 2016-17 to exempt Meghalaya from implementation of Aadhaar.
“It was later learnt that Aadhaar was to be connected to several beneficiary schemes such as ration card, job card, now even MHIS, and several other such schemes,” she said.
“If you want the ration card facility and MHIS card, you have to have an Aadhaar. If you are a student applying for a scholarship, you have to have an Aadhaar,” she said, adding, “Government of India has used Aadhaar as a base registry… certification to be given to the effect of being a bona fide Indian citizen.”
In case of any discrepancies regarding Aadhaar, the minister said, the protesters should write to the authorities concerned.
