Sonia Gandhi: Rajivji believed technology is for empowerment. Aadhaar will do this for Rural India

In a bid to plug loopholes in the implementation of welfare schemes, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi launched the nationwide Aadhaar Enabled Service Delivery from Dudu in Rajasthan, marking the second anniversary of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). This service will help integrate various government-run flagship programmes with the Aadhaar card system,

While addressing the function, Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi said the Aadhaar scheme gives identity to the common man and is a tool to claim benefits. She also said that using the Aadhaar card the common man can claim his rights anywhere in the country. “The Aadhaar card will help the government in ensuring that subsidy reaches its intended beneficiaries directly and the poor will not have to run from pillar to post to claim their rights,” added Sonia Gandhi.

Sonia Gandhi said that this flagship project not only helps the common man with a proof of identity but also ensures his rights. “Aadhaar is not just a simple identification card. People can use this card to avail other benefits also. It will help the marginalized sections of our society to earn their rights. Further it would help to plug leakages and ensure that the beneficiary directly gets the benefit” said the Congress President. “This card helps the aam aadmi to open bank accounts, avail mobile and LPG gas connections”, she informed.

Explaining that the Aadhaar scheme is an extension of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s long term vision, Sonia Gandhi said, “Rajiv Gandhi had a dream that the benefits of the modern technology should reach the common man. It was because of this long term vision only our country witnessed a revolution in technology especially in the telecom sector. The aam aadmi in our country have now been reaping benefits of the mobile phones, because of the policies of Rajiv Gandhi and taking inspiration from him only we have the Aadhaar policy today”.

The Unique ID project is about to begin a new phase - that of facilitating transactions. Aadhaar-enabled applications will be used for ensuring direct payments like pension payments, wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Public Distribution System, Mukhyamantri BPL Gramin Awas Yojna, Pension scheme under social security, Asha Sehyogini payment and Chief Minister's Scholarship scheme, to the correct beneficiary.

Apart from Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, UIDAI chairman Nandan Nilekani, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia Minister of State for Communications Sachin Pilot, Sanjay Nilekani were also present..