'Aadhaar' to ensure money reaches to people directly: Rahul

Amethi: The Aadhaar scheme, which aims to provide each citizen with a 12-digit unique number, has been launched to ensure that the funds allocated by the Centre for various schemes directly reach the beneficiaries, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi said today. “Rajiv Gandhiji had once said that of Re 1 released by the government, only 15 paise reaches the people. Situation is same today,” Rahul said at a function here. [caption id=“attachment_112921” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi. PTI”]  [/caption] He rued that crores of rupees were being released under various schemes including NREGA and Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan, but it’s not reaching the people. “It is not about UP alone, situation is same across the country.” He said an effort has been made to change the situation by launching Aadhaar scheme. “Under the scheme, thumb impression of people are being taken and a number is being allotted to each of them. This number will be their identity. An unique identity is being created for each Indian,” he explained while inaugurating a branch of Corporation Bank here. The banking services have been linked with the aadhaar card and there would be one identity number and bank account, he said. “After this, whatever money we will send from Delhi will directly reach your bank accounts. It is an attempt to fix this 15 paise problem,” he said, adding the aadhaar card will also address the discrepancies in BPL list. “In next two to three years, we will distribute aadhaar cards to all Indians so that whatever money is allocated it reaches directly to the pocket of the people,” he said. He said that country cannot progress unless banking services reach poor, farmers and labourers. Earlier, Rahul visited the house of Ajay Gupta, who was killed with his wife and two others on 13 October, and met his mother. Gupta’s mother handed him over a memorandum demanding a CBI inquiry into the matter, party sources said. PTI