Why is the use of voter IDs for welfare schemes contentious?, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh announced that Voter IDs with biometric authentication would replace Aadhaar for identifying beneficiaries of welfare schemes.
• The stated aim is to prevent fraudulent beneficiaries, implying Aadhaar is susceptible to misuse.
• Opposition parties link this move to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, fearing disenfranchisement and exclusion from welfare programs.
• West Bengal has already linked state welfare schemes, including Public Distribution System (PDS) ration cards, to electoral rolls.

Voter Id for Welfare.jpg

Detailed Insights:

• Voter IDs have historically served as general identity proof (pehchaan patra) and for accessing certain entitlements like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) job cards.
• Some states, such as Delhi, have made Voter IDs compulsory for specific pension schemes, often requiring endorsement from local representatives.
• However, Voter IDs have not been exclusively used nationwide for welfare delivery, with 10 states introducing 'family cards' for household-targeted schemes.
• Nikhil Dey of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) questioned the intent, noting Aadhaar was previously promoted for plugging leaks and serves as a financial address.
• Concerns arise from the SIR process, which has removed over 13 crore electors, potentially leading to exclusion from both voting and welfare.
• In West Bengal, 22 lakh people appealed against their removal from electoral rolls by the Election Commission of India, with 21 lakh cases still pending.
• The Minister later clarified that Voter IDs would be used along with Aadhaar, not as a complete replacement.
• The Ministry of Panchayati Raj influences rural welfare programs through Gram Sabhas and manages grants recommended by bodies like the Sixteenth Finance Commission.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Voter ID: An identity document issued by the Election Commission of India to adult citizens eligible to vote, also known as Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC).
• Aadhaar: A 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) based on biometric and demographic data.
• Special Intensive Revision (SIR): A periodic process undertaken by the Election Commission of India to update and purify electoral rolls by adding new voters and removing ineligible ones.
• Public Distribution System (PDS): An Indian food security system that distributes subsidized food and non-food items to the poor through a network of fair price shops.