PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry government has made Aadhaar mandatory for availing benefits and subsidies on power consumption charges. The industrial development (power) department has issued a notification in this regard under Section 7 of the Aadhaar (targeted delivery of financial and other subsidies, benefits, and services) Act, 2016.
“…the use of Aadhaar as an identity document for delivery of services or benefits or subsidies simplifies the government delivery processes brings in transparency and efficiency and enables beneficiaries to get their entitlements directly in a convenient and seamless manner by obviating the need to produce multiple documents to prove one’s identity,” said undersecretary (power) S Murugesan in the notification.
The subsidy of 50% on power consumption charges to all domestic connections and ‘one hut, one bulb’ connections whose monthly energy consumption is less than 100 units can be availed only after the consumers establish their identities using Aadhaar cards. Similarly, 100% subsidy to all agricultural consumers will be extended only after they establish their identities using Aadhaar cards.
An individual eligible for receiving the benefits under the government schemes must furnish proof of possession of the Aadhaar number or undergo Aadhaar authentication. Any individual desirous of availing government benefits but does not possess the Aadhaar number or has not yet enrolled for Aadhaar must apply for Aadhaar enrolment before registering for the government schemes. They can visit any Aadhaar enrolment centre (list available on the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) website www.uidai.gov.in) to enrol for Aadhaar.
