Newmai News Network Shillong | April 20 Out of the projected 32 lakh projected population of Meghalaya, only 7,56,529 have opted to enroll for Aadhaar – a measly 23.42%. Giving a statement relating to a call attention notice by KHNAM MLA Adelbert Nongrum, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma informed that the government of India, through a notification on March 28, extended the deadline for providing Aadhaar to avail of various services under section 7 of the Aadhaar Act by up to June 30, 2018 adding the schemes are mainly subsidized government services and funded welfare schemes. He informed that those wishing to apply for Aadhaar have to provide their EPIC ID from Meghalaya and in case of no EPIC ID, writing from headman (Rangbah Shnong/Nokma) certifying the genuineness of the applicant. Besides passport issued by Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India can also be used for verification. Sangma further informed that the Supreme Court on March 27 had refused to pass an interim order extending the deadline of March 31, for linking of Aadhaar with the government welfare schemes where benefits are transferred to citizens from the Consolidated Fund of India. “Hence, the Supreme Court has allowed the government to link the 12-digit national biometric identifier number to the beneficiaries for transfer of benefits of schemes funded from this fund,” he said. Sangma added that the Supreme Court in its ruling on March 14, mentioned that the mandatory linking of bank accounts, mobile phones, passports, PAN card will stand extended ‘indefinitely’ till judgment on the pending petitions is pronounced.
