Essential services not be denied for the want of Aadhaar: UIDAI

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Saturday asked central and state government departments not to deny essential services for the want of an Aadhaar number.

In a statement the Aadhaar implementing agency said that "genuine beneficiary" should not be denied essential services like "medical help, hospitalisation, school admission or ration through PDS" for the want of the unique identity number.

"UIDAI has taken a serious note of some of the cases reported in media recently in which it is claimed that the want of Aadhaar has resulted in the denial of essential services like hospitalisation or medical help by some lower level staffs causing grave inconvenience to people," the statement said.

"While real facts behind such claims of denial are being investigated by the concerned agencies and strict action will be taken in case denial has occurred."

According to the statement, the "Section 7 of Aadhaar Act 2016" has a clear provision for "no exclusion or denial".

"Aadhaar enables people to establish their identity so that they receive their entitlements and exercise their rights without any fear of being excluded," the statemenet said.

"However, there have been some media reports that some service providers are denying essential and other services for want of Aadhaar. Such violations are punishable under respective laws of the land. Under no circumstance, anyone can be denied a service just because he or she doesn't have an Aadhaar."

--IANS

ag-rv/vm