New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS) In a measure to woo farmers ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday approved waiving, in the interim, Aadhaar seeding for farmers to receive the second instalment of the income support scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN).
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the one-time waiver of the mandatory quoting of Aadhaar to avail benefits under PM-KISAN was made due to paucity of time as the second instalment is to be given on April 1 as promised by the Modi government.
"The PM-KISAN was launched in Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) on February 24 by the Prime Minister and the first instalment of the income to the tune of Rs 2,021 crore has already been transferred to the beneficiaries.
"For the second instalment which is to be paid on April 1, the cabinet has decided that Aadhaar quoting will not be mandatory," said Prasad.
The PM-KISAN entailing a direct cash support of Rs 6,000 for farmers was announced in the Interim Budget 2019.
The cabinet also approved promulgation of the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019. The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was passed by the Lok Sabha in its sitting held on January 4. However, before the bill could be considered and passed by the Rajya Sabha, the House was adjourned sine die.
Prasad also said the voluntary use of Aadhaar will be considered in either electronic or physical form.
"Any entity that takes Aadhaar will follow the privacy standards. Aadhaar can be used on voluntary basis for KYC documents for Telegraph Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act," he said
--IANS
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