SHILLONG, DEC 14: Maintaining that aadhar will not be made mandatory in Meghalaya, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today said his government will convene a meeting with bankers and financial institutions besides seeking clarity from the Centre in view of “conflicting directions” issued by its line ministries thereby creating confusion amongst the citizens.
“I will have a meeting convene by the chief secretary with the banks,” Sangma told the Assembly held here on Thursday.
He was replying to a query raised by opposition HSPDP leader Ardent M Basaiawmoit who urged the state government to write to the banks to stop issuing circulars “forcing” people to link their bank accounts with Aadhaar number.
Stating that there is a problem to stop Aadhaar enrollment, Sangma however said that is why state government is saying that Aadhaar should not be mandatory but voluntary keeping in mind there are students studying outside the state who required to sit for different entrance examinations which have made Aadhaar number compulsory.
“If Aadhaar is not issued to such students they will not be eligible for these entrance examination,” he said.
Also stating that even scholarships of students have been linked to Aadhaar, he said “We have no choice but to allow Aadhaar enrollment for those who wants to avail Aadhaar number.”
“That is why we are having around 6 lakh enrollment otherwise Meghalaya should have had zero enrollment,” he added.
Earlier, opposition members also asked the state government to issue directions to all its departments to refrain from pushing people to enroll for Aadhaar while referring to the Supreme Court’s interim order on the matter.
Sharing the same concern, former minister Prestone Tynsong also urged the government to issue direction to private agencies engaged for the purpose to stop conducting Aadhaar enrollment in the state in view of the present prevailing confusion on the matter.
The Chief Minister however said that not only the people of Meghalaya but the entire nation is confused with regards to Aadhaar enrollment.
Referring to the different correspondences received from the Centre, he said that while on one hand the Centre in a letter on September 5, is saying that Aadhaar is not mandatory but it’s line ministries are issuing conflicting directions to the state government.
“There is no concrete decision being passed on to the state government and even I am confused due to this,” he said.
Informing that he had also spoken to Assam chief minister on the matter, Sangma also assured the House that the government will soon seek clarity from the Centre.
He however informed that Aadhaar is only being asked for those central sponsored schemes based on letters from the concerned ministries.
“This is because many such schemes implemented by the state government are linked to Aadhaar Seeded Beneficiary Data Base,” he said.
The Chief Minister however that in respect of state government programmes there will be no Aadhaar Seeded Beneficiary Data Based required.
“Therefore we will request the Centre that the same be done for central schemes implemented in Meghalaya,” Sangma said.
On the other hand, the Chief Minister also maintained that the Centre should consider not making Aadhaar mandatory until such time the National Population Register is in place.
“Because without it (NPR) how will we know that Aadhaar exercise does not go beyond Indian citizens,” he said adding “Therefore Aadhaar should not be made mandatory in Meghalaya otherwise it would lead to complication for a state that is dealing with issue of illegal immigration.”
[12/14, 12:46] EJ Dkhar
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