Parliament panel pans Aadhar, Rahul pins hopes

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Aadhar, the Indian government's ambitious scheme to provide a unique identity number to the citizens of the country, has elicited contradicting opinions from different people at the top echelons of power. That, too, within the last 24 hours.

While the parliamentary standing committee on finance has doubted the utility purpose of the scheme,

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi believes that it would facilitate direct funding to even the lower strata of society.

"Basically, we thought it was waste of money," a member of the committee had apparently stated.

It is said that both home ministry and finance ministry officials had their own doubts over the project and even the efficacy of the technology to be used.

The standing committee had even dismissed as unnecessary the need for statutory status to the Unique Identification Authority of India  (UIDAI).

Contrastingly, Rahul thinks that it would help deal with several social issues, including the famous 15-paise-to-citizen-from-every-one-rupee-by-Centre worry of his father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

"The one thing that needs urgent change is the delivery mechanism... how to ensure that you get the entire Rs one earmarked to you," he said.

All this when the audiences from Bundelkhand he was addressing at a rally couldn't recognize what UID is and faintly could with Aadhar.

Rahul had to explain them how it will have cards like voter identity, BPL, ration and job cards, all packaged into one, helping them get their dues.