Shillong, December 14: The Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dr. Mukul Sangma categorically told the state Assembly that the use of Aadhaar in the state is not mandatory. He however, the registering of Aadhaar is being allowed in the state due to sheer necessary, as students will not be able to appear for the NEET Examination and also to receive their scholarship. Replying to the question raised by HSPDP legislator, Mr. Witting Mawsor who wanted to know whether Aadhaar Number is compulsory or not in the state, Dr. Sangma said, the entire country is in confusion with regard to the use of Aadhaar Number.
Replying this to various queries raised by Opposition members during Question Hour on the last day of the Winter Session, Dr. Sangma said on the one hand the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has informed the state Government that the use of Aadhaar was not mandatory and other hand, other Union Ministries insisted the use Aadhaar while implementing the various Centrally sponsored schemes. He said these centrally sponsored schemes require to be linked with Aadhaar, as the Government of India is implementing the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme, as the benefit and subsidy will be transferred to the account of the beneficiaries linked with Aadhaar.
Dr. Sangma also said that due to this confusion that some people are knocking the door of Judiciary to address their grievances. The Chief Minister, Dr. Sangma said that some of the laws passed Parliament, which have constitutions validity, have made Aadhaar compulsory and because of this necessity, people are compelled to register Aadhaar. Explaining further on the use of Aadhaar, the Chief Minister informed the House that under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, enacted by the NDA Government, Aadhaar has been made mandatory with all banking companies, financial institutions and financial transactions.
In view of this confusion, Dr. Sangma said that he will apprise the Centre to have complete clarity on the use of Aadhaar. Responding to the information given by an Opposition Member belonging to United Democratic Party (UDP), Mr. Metbah Lyngdoh, who represents Mairang Assembly Constituency, that a Government employee had to take a long leave because he was force by his officer that he should register Aadhaar, Dr. Sangma assured the member that he would note of this.
The Chief Minister said all the state’s schemes in the state are not required to be linked with Aadhaar. He also assured the House that a meeting will held at the Chief Secretary Level with all the banks in the state to sought out the problem of the use of Aadhaar.
To another query raised by the Leader of Opposition, Dr. Donkupar Roy, Meghalaya School Education and Literacy, Mrs. Deborah C. Marak informed the state Assembly that the state Government is implementing the project, “Supporting Human Capital” funded by Asian Development Bank and admitted that the project is yet to be implemented in some schools, as they are yet to be cleared by ADB.
She said there have been cases of delay in implementing the scheme, as the construction work in being done by the Public Works Department. Intervening in the reply of the Minister, Meghalaya Chief Minister, Dr. Mukul Sangma said some of the contractors have been very responsive and some are less responsive that cause delay in the implementation of this human capital development project. The Chief Minister, however, reiterated that he will personally look into the matter to ensure that the scheme is implemented in letter and spirit and all the requirement to be in place to ensure quality education in the state.
On the quest asked by an Opposition member, Mr. Phlas-ting-well Pangniang, who wanted to know whether the Sketch Map of Meghalaya supplied by the Revenue Department on the 19th of May this year could be considered valid and official Map of Meghalaya, Meghalaya Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, Dr. R.C. Laloo said that map issued by his Department should be considered valid.
