This refers to the report "SC asks Centre to tell states not to make Aadhaar mandatory" (March 17). The Supreme Court has once again ruled that the Aadhaar card cannot be the sole means of benefits transfer. This is because the speedy and time-bound issue of Aadhaar is not getting the desired attention. If the government feels that Aadhaar is a good vehicle to transfer entitlements with minimum leakage, then it must put far greater effort to ensure it is obtained easily. After decades, the issues of passport and PAN card have been streamlined with their time-bound delivery, but Aadhaar cards would far exceed their combined numbers. The existing infrastructure for the delivery of Aadhaar is just not there.
The best solution would be to annex Aadhaar modules to passport service kendras. Akin to the processing of passports, for Aadhaar too, the date and time for appearance can be intimated after application and posted within two weeks thereafter. Since both are related to personal identification, suitable coordination can be built in to complement each other's databank. We must make up our mind either to professionalise the issue of Aadhaar cards or abandon the project and save further expenses.
R Narayanan Ghaziabad
Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201
E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number
