Lok Sabha Question No. 2165 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-31
Subject: Linkage of Aadhaar to PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: BANSHILAL MAHTO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2165 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31 ST  JULY, 2018

## LINKAGE OF AADHAAR TO PDS

2165.

DR. BANSHILAL MAHATO:

Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

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- (a) whether  the  Government  has  made  the  Aadhaar  Card  compulsory  for procurement  of  foodgrains  from  Public  Distribution  System  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether foodgrains/ration is being distributed without Aadhaar Card also in various States of the country at present;
- (c) if so, the details thereof, Statewise; and
- (d) whether the Government has stipulated any time-frame to provide foodgrains/ration  without  Aadhaar  Card  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof,  State-wise including Chhattisgarh?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d):  The Notification No. S.O. 371(E) dated 08.02.2017 issued by the Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD) under Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (Aadhaar Act), inter alia requires the individual beneficiaries having Ration Cards under NFSA to furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar number or undergo Aadhaar authentication to receive subsidies under NFSA, and  those  who  do  not  possess  Aadhaar,  to  make  application  for  Aadhaar  enrolment. The notification further provides that till the Aadhaar is assigned to the beneficiaries of subsidies under NFSA, the entitlements under NFSA shall be given to such individuals on production of Ration Card, Aadhaar Enrolment ID slip or copy of his/her request made to State Government for Aadhaar enrolment alongw . ith copy of any of the 8 documents viz. Voter ID, PAN Card, Passport, Driving License, Certificate of identity having photo issued by Gazetted Officer or Tehsildar, Address Card having name and Photo issued by Department of Post or Kisan Photo Passbook.

Besides, this Department has issued clear instructions to all States/UTs that no beneficiary/household shall be deleted from the list of eligible beneficiaries/households only on the ground of not possessing Aadhaar, and shall also not be denied subsidized foodgrains or cash transfer of food subsidy under NFSA due to non-availability  of  Aadhaar  or  failure  of  biometric  authentication  due  to  network/ connectivity/  linking  issues/  poor  biometric  of  the  beneficiary  or  other  technical reasons.

Beneficiaries  under  NFSA  including  those  in  Chhatisgarh,  who  do  not  possess Aadhaar are required to make application as per provisions of above Notification latest by 30/9/2018, for Aadhaar  enrolment by giving their name, address, mobile number with Ration Card number and other details with their fair price shop owners or through the web portal provided for the purpose by State/UT.