TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Aadhaar Cards which are the latest government initiative to disburse schemes and monetary benefits to the people are being given on the basis of ration cards which could be fake, an NGO has alleged.
Addressing mediapersons, Yatish Naik of the Pilerne Citizens Forum pointed out how, by the government’s own admission there were fake cards in circulation and that these cards being one of the documents for availing an Aadhaar card were giving rise to fake Aadhaar Cards which would lead to misuse of government schemes.
“A circular was issued by the government in 2002 which said that the ration card should not be used for identification purpose. So when the central government notified the ration card as one of the documents for identification to avail of an Aadhaar card, it was the duty of the State government to inform the Centre that in Goa, owing to the bogus ration cards in circulation in Goa the card should not be used,” Naik said.
The circular he was referring to was issued by the Director of Civil Supplies stating that “considering that there were a very large number of false ration cards circulating in the State due to whatever lacunae there are in the procedure of their issue… it has been decided by the government that the administrative wings in the government should not insist on production of ration cards for identification purpose.”
Naik said it was the duty of the State government to update them about the issuance of this circular.
“Fake ration cards will give rise to fake Aadhaar Cards, and fake Aadhaar Cards will give rise to ineligible persons availing of schemes and consequently loss to the State exchequer. This as taxpayers is our concern,” Naik said.
He also said that these Aadhaar cards could be used to further obtain other documents including PAN cards to further commit fraud on the State.
They have written to the chairman of the UIDAI as well as the President of India calling for a thorough scrutiny of all the Aadhaar cards issued.
A circular was issued by the government in 2002 which said that the ration card should not be used for identification purpose.
