The government has proposed to make Aadhaar mandatory for individuals to apply for a PAN card and file income tax returns from July 1 this year. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley moved an amendment to this effect in the draft Finance Bill 2017 that was taken up by the Lok Sabha. The Centre made it mandatory for beneficiaries to quote their Aadhaar number to avail themselves of benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana for skill development, and the Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers. The Centre had identified 31 schemes in which the Aadhaar could be made mandatory. Notifications have been issued in recent months by departments to make Aadhaar compulsory for getting subsidised grains under the National Food Security Act, jobs under the MGNREGA and pension benefits under the Employees’ Pension Scheme. Thus Aadhaar wil regulate our system and help the government to follow a uniform procedure and look after the welfare of people in the best way possible. This is a step in the right direction to monitor development.
Anandambal Subbu
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
