Introduction: The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, has issued a significant notification, S.O. 4636(E), dated October 9, 2023. This notification introduces the use of Aadhaar as an identity document for availing benefits under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund, a key component of the Infrastructure Development Fund. This article provides a detailed analysis of this notification, its implications, and the procedures it outlines.
1. Aadhaar as an Identity Document: The article commences by highlighting the significance of Aadhaar as an identity document in the delivery of government services, subsidies, and benefits. It emphasizes the benefits of using Aadhaar, including transparency, efficiency, and the elimination of the need for multiple identity documents.
2. Introduction to the Scheme: Readers are introduced to the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The scheme involves interest subvention benefits provided to various beneficiaries, including individual entrepreneurs, private companies, Farmers Producers Organizations, and Section 8 companies. These benefits are aimed at supporting credit-cum-subsidy linked activities in accordance with existing scheme guidelines.
3. Aadhaar Mandate in the Scheme: The article delves into the central theme of the notification, outlining the mandate for eligible beneficiaries to provide proof of possession of an Aadhaar number or undergo Aadhaar authentication. It clarifies the requirements for beneficiaries who do not possess an Aadhaar number, including the application process and the provision of Aadhaar enrolment facilities.
4. Document Requirements for Unenrolled Individuals: The notification outlines the documents that unenrolled individuals should provide as proof of identity until they receive their Aadhaar numbers. This section clarifies the documents that are acceptable for verifying identity and obtaining scheme benefits.
5. Public Awareness: To ensure a smooth transition to the Aadhaar requirement, the article explains the responsibility of the Department in charge of implementing the scheme. This includes the dissemination of information to beneficiaries through media channels to make them aware of the Aadhaar requirement.
6. Exception Handling Mechanisms: The article discusses the measures to be taken when Aadhaar authentication fails due to various reasons, including poor biometrics. It emphasizes alternative authentication methods such as Immune Reconstruction Inflammatory Syndrome scan, face authentication, and One Time Password options.
7. Quick Response Code (QR Code): The notification mandates the use of Quick Response code readers at convenient locations to verify the authenticity of physical Aadhaar letters. This section explains the implementation of QR code readers.
8. Effective Date of Notification: The article concludes by specifying that the notification will be effective upon publication in the Official Gazette in all states and union territories, with the exception of Assam, Meghalaya, and the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Conclusion: This notification underscores the government’s commitment to streamlining service delivery, promoting transparency, and ensuring that beneficiaries receive their entitlements with ease. By incorporating Aadhaar into the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Scheme, the Ministry aims to enhance the efficiency of subsidy disbursement and strengthen the identity verification process. It also showcases the government’s technological advancements in identity authentication. Overall, this mandate represents a significant step toward modernizing the delivery of government benefits in India.
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, 9th October, 2023
S.O. 4636(E).—Whereas, the use of Aadhaar as identity document for delivery of services or benefits or subsidies simplifies the Government delivery processes, brings in transparency and efficiency, and enables beneficiaries to get their entitlements directly to them in a convenient and seamless manner and Aadhaar obviates the need for producing multiple documents to prove one’s identity;
And, whereas, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (hereinafter referred to as the Ministry) in the Government of India is administering the scheme of Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund- component under the Infrastructure Development Fund (herein referred to as the Scheme) which is implemented by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (herein after referred to as the Implementing Agency) across the country;
And whereas, under the scheme, Interest subvention is reimbursed (herein referred to as the benefits) inter-alia, to the individual entrepreneurs, private companies, Farmers Producers Organizations and Section 8 companies (hereinafter referred to as the beneficiaries), towards central assistance for credit-cum-subsidy linked activities for the different sub components as per the extant Scheme guidelines;
And whereas, the aforesaid Scheme involves recurring expenditure incurred from the consolidated Fund of India;
Now, therefore, in pursuance of the provisions of section 7 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (18 of 2016) (herein after referred to the said Act), the Central Government hereby requires the following , namely:––
1. (1) Every eligible beneficiaries desirous of availing the benefits under the Scheme is hereby required to furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar number or undergo Aadhaar authentication.
(2) Every eligible beneficiary desirous of availing the benefits under the Scheme, who does not possess the Aadhaar number or, has not yet enrolled for Aadhaar, shall have to apply for Aadhaar enrolment provided he or she is entitled to obtain Aadhaar as per the provisions of section 3 of the said Act and such persons may visit any Aadhaar enrolment centre [list available at Unique Identification Authority of India websiteuidai.gov.in] for Aadhaar enrolment.
(3) As per regulation 12 of the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016, the concerned Department, which is responsible for implementation of the Scheme in the State Government or Union territory Administration or the Ministry, is required to offer Aadhaar enrolment facilities for the beneficiaries who are not yet enrolled for Aadhaar and in case there is no Aadhaar enrolment centre located in the respective Block or Taluka or Tehsil, the said concerned Department shall provide enrolment facilities at convenient locations in coordination with the existing Registrars of expand or by becoming expand Registrars itself:
Provided that till the time Aadhaar is assigned to the individual, benefits under the Scheme shall be given to such individuals, subject to the production of the following documents, namely:–
(a) if he or she has enrolled, his or her Aadhaar Enrolment Identification slip; and
(b) anyone of the following documents namely: –
(i) Bank Passbook or Post office Passbook with photo; or (ii) Voter Identification Card; or (iii) Permanent Account Number Card; or (iv) Passport; or (v) Driving licence issued by Licencing Authority under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988); or (vi) Ration Card; or (vii) expand Job Card; or (viii) Kisan Photo Passbook; or (ix) Certificate of identity having photo of such person issued by a Gazetted Officer or a Tehsildar on an official letter head; or (x) Any other document as specified by the Ministry:
Provided further that the above documents shall be checked by an officer designated by the Ministry for that purpose.
2. In order to provide convenient and hassle free benefits to the beneficiaries under the Scheme, the Department, which is responsible for implementation of the Scheme in the State Government or Union territory Administration through the implementing Agency, shall make all the required arrangements to ensure wide publicity through media is given to the beneficiaries to make them aware of the requirement of Aadhaar under the Scheme.
3. In all cases, where Aadhaar authentication fails due to poor biometrics of the beneficiaries or due to any other reason, the following exception handling mechanisms shall be adopted, namely:-
(a) In case of poor fingerprint quality, Immune Reconstruction Inflammatory Syndrome scan or Face Authentication facility shall be adopted for authentication, thereby the concerned Department, which is responsible for implementation of the Scheme in the State Government or Union territory Administration through the implementing Agency, shall make provisions for Immune Reconstruction Inflammatory Syndrome scanners or Face Authentication along with fingerprint authentication for delivery of benefits in seamless manner;
(b) In case of biometric authentication through fingerprints or Immune Reconstruction Inflammatory Syndrome or face authentication is not successful, wherever feasible and admissible authentication by Aadhaar One Time Password or Time-based One Time Password with limited time validity, as the case may be, shall be offered;
(c) In all other cases where biometric or One Time Password or Time-based One Time Password authentication is not possible, benefit may be given on the basis of physical Aadhaar letter whose authenticity can be verified through the Quick Response code printed on the Aadhaar letter.
4. The necessary arrangement of Quick Response code reader shall be provided at the convenient locations by the concerned Department responsible for implementation of the Scheme in the State Government or Union territory Administration through the Implementing Agency.
5. This notification shall come into effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette in all the States and Union territories, except the State of Assam, Meghalaya and the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
[F. No. AA-17/5/2023-NLM-DADF]
Dr. O.P. CHAUDHARY, Jt. Secy.
