PM to launch Aadhaar based delivery system tomorrow

The much-awaited Aadhaar enabled system for direct cash transfer to beneficiaries under social schemes such as MNREGA and pension will be launched on Saturday by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Dudu, Rajasthan.

The payment mechanism is aimed at checking corruption and pilferage in the social sector schemes that seek to promote financial inclusion.

The launch of the scheme by the Prime Minister coincides with the second anniversary of Aadhaar project, which is being implemented by the Unique Identification Authority of India.

In the last two years, the Unique Identification Authority of India has generated over 20 crore (200 million) Aadhaar numbers.

The 21st Crore Aadhaar number will be handed over to the resident by Singh at a function at Dudu on Saturday.

The United Progressive Alliance government

is making this a big event as its top Brass, including Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Minister of State for Communications Sachin Pilot and Planning Minister Ashwani Kumar, will attend the meet.

"This is very significant thing and it will help reducing wastage, fraud and corruption," UIDAI Chairman Nandan Nilekani told reporters in New Delhi.

Use of Aadhaar-based delivery mechanism will improve compliance management, reduce leakages and increase efficiency and accountability of the government's social sector schemes, he said.

"The government is rolling out Aadhaar enabled service delivery initiative in 51 districts across the country.

"It will be used for making pension payments, MNREGA payments, public distribution system, scholarship payments etc," a statement said.