Voter ID for welfare? What Rajiv Ranjan Singh’s proposal could mean | Explained
Opposition parties have linked this announcement to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, in which 13.5 crore electors were reportedly removed. They argue that disenfranchisement will now be coupled with exclusion from welfare programmes.
Union Minister for Panchayati Raj and senior JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan Singh, has proposed the use of voter cards, complemented by biometric authentication, as a means to identify beneficiaries and administer payments for welfare schemes. Singh expressed his concern that Aadhaar cards are readily accessible at every corner, and their widespread use could lead to instances of fraudulent beneficiaries.
He suggested that the adoption of voter cards combined with biometric authentication could be a viable solution to address this issue. The ration card, introduced during colonial rule, was initially a mass-scale identity document. However, welfare entitlements eventually became tied to stable residences and enumerated households, marking the first instance of a singular identity being assigned to an Indian family.
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- Don’t confuse PM Modi, convince him for open debate with me: Rahul Gandhi to Amit Shah thehindu.com
- Rahul Gandhi tells Amit Shah to convince PM Modi for open debate on SIR: ‘Don't be afraid’ hindustantimes.com
