Andhra Pradesh: CM Chandrababu Naidu gets job done quietly

Mr Naidu is using Aadhaar data to weed out ineligible and bogus beneficiaries in all government schemes, from ration cards to pensions to fee reimbursement.

Around 3 to 4 lakh “ineligible” pensioners have already been removed in AP.

In fact, many people have been protesting during “Janmabhoomi” programmes regarding removal of pensions for petty lapses, like wrong gender being mentioned in Aadhaar cards, in spite of the beneficiaries drawing pension for the past decade.

Clashes, arguments, protests and dharnas have been reported in gram sabhas across the state during the “Janmabhoomi ma- vooru” programme wherein pensioners demanded reintroducing their names in the list.

The AP government had earlier done an exercise linking Aadhaar cards to land data, wherein all landowners were asked to submit their Aadhaar numbers to village revenue officials and the same was digitised. Based on this data, the state government is now denying pension to those who own more than 2.5 acres of wetland and 5 acres of dry land.

Minister Ravela Kishore Babu said that even for scholarships and fee reimbursement schemes, Aadhaar and income tax data would be used to remove those with income above Rs 1 lakh.

Rations have also been stopped for those ineligible based on Aadhaar data.

In AP, there are 43 lakh beneficiaries under widow, old age and disabled persons’ pension scheme. The state has increased the pension amount five fold and is now weeding out ineligible beneficiaries.

Advisor (communications) to AP government, Parakala Prabhakar, said, “Existing and eligible pensioners are being brought in. Several applications are being filed again. The Comptroller and Auditor General found more than 4,000 men drawing widow pensions.”

He said the state had formed six-member committees at the village level for redressing complaints. Vehicle registrations and driving licences will also be linked with Aadhar cards soon, he said.

The state government has also decided to link vehicle registration details and driving licenses with Aadhaar. He added that there were eight criteria for pension ineligibility. “Those who are employees of state, central government and public corporations, those who are pensioners of the state, Centre and corporations, income tax payees, those having 2.5 acre of wetland and 5 acre of dry land, possessing four wheelers and those drawing freedom fighter pensions are ineligible.”

He added that the state government had formed six-member committees at the village level for redressing grievances and to look into complaints. The state government has also decided to link vehicle registration details and driving licenses with Aadhaar. This will enable the government to know the types of vehicles owned by people.