It should be obvious that the benefits of various government welfare schemes must reach everyone who meets the eligibility criteria laid down under these schemes. The government, panchayats and other institutions should also publicise these schemes adequately so that potential beneficiaries who may not be aware of them can learn about their entitlements and access the support available to them.
Nevertheless, it has become necessary to reiterate this basic principle: no eligible person should be deprived of the benefits of government schemes because of additional procedural or identification requirements.
The immediate concern arises from a statement attributed to Union Minister for Panchayati Raj, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh, popularly known as Lallan Singh. The *Indian Express*, in a report by Harikishan Sharma titled ‘Biometrics, voter IDs for beneficiary payments, not Aadhaar’, published on November 3, provided the following translation of the Minister's remarks. Addressing a workshop on October 30, he reportedly said: “The Aadhaar card will no longer be the basis. Instead, payments to beneficiaries will be processed using their biometrics and their voter ID (EPIC) number.”
The practical difficulties associated with biometric identification in the implementation of welfare schemes are already well known. In several instances, eligible beneficiaries have faced problems accessing their entitlements because of difficulties with biometric authentication. If a voter ID, or EPIC number, is additionally made an essential requirement, this could create another barrier and deprive people who are otherwise eligible for government assistance.
A significant debate is currently taking place over the omission of names from electoral rolls. It is important to ensure that every eligible voter is included and that nobody is left out. At the same time, the extent of the problem should be assessed carefully, without exaggeration that could be harmful to the country, particularly if such criticism is misused by others. Protecting every citizen's right to vote and ensuring that criticism of electoral processes remains grounded in facts are both important considerations.
However, at a time when significant numbers of people, more than might be expected under normal circumstances, have legitimate grievances over the omission of their names from electoral rolls, making voter ID numbers a requirement for accessing welfare benefits could compound their difficulties. People who are already facing problems because their names are missing from the electoral rolls should not be made to face further obstacles in obtaining benefits from schemes for which they otherwise qualify.
Thus, linking access to welfare benefits with the possession of a voter ID or EPIC number would be problematic even under normal circumstances. In the present situation, it could prove particularly unfair to those who have been affected by omissions from electoral rolls.
India has several important welfare and support schemes which, if implemented effectively, can make a significant contribution to reducing distress among vulnerable sections of society. Taken together, these schemes can also help mitigate some of the hardships arising from high levels of economic and social inequality.
The preferred response to inequality should be to undertake strong structural measures to reduce it, including land reforms suited to India's present conditions. However, another important line of defence is the effective implementation of existing welfare-oriented and economically supportive schemes. This requires adequate budgetary allocations, along with strong fiscal and administrative support.
During visits to villages and urban slums, I have come across many families and individuals belonging to vulnerable groups who are eligible for government assistance but have been unable to access it because of various implementation problems. The difficulties faced by such people could increase considerably if the insistence on voter ID or EPIC numbers, as mentioned by the Union Minister, is implemented.
The government should, therefore, reconsider the proposed requirement and ensure that possession of a voter ID number does not become an additional condition for receiving benefits under welfare schemes. Eligibility should be determined according to the criteria prescribed for each scheme, and administrative procedures should facilitate access rather than create new obstacles.
The fundamental principle must remain that every eligible person should receive the benefits intended for them. Government welfare schemes are meant to provide support to people facing economic and social vulnerabilities. Their implementation should ensure inclusion, not create additional grounds for exclusion.
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The writer is Honorary Convener of the Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Planet in Peril and Protecting Earth for Children. His website is bharatdogra.in, and his YouTube channel is Bharat Dogra | Save Earth Campaign
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