It is the welfarist approach of the Delhi AAP’s government. Its decision to delink  Aadhaar from pension shows, they are keen to provide welfare services to the senior citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities. The chief minister Arvind Kejriwal chaired the decision of the Delhi cabinet meeting. It is a historical decision on the social welfare department’s proposal to delink Aadhaar and Aadhaar linked bank accounts from the pension.

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Pensioners who did not get the benefits because of the provisions of Aadhaar act, 2016, now get their amount. Also, the pensioners who were not getting the enhanced amounts for lack of Aadhaar will not get the new rates.

After the decision, benefits of Old age pension to 4.18 lakhs and 77,542 to persons with disability. But due to some ‘systematic issues’ with the banks, 33,191 senior citizens, and 9,799 PWD will not get the benefits.

Section 7 of the Aadhaar act, 2016, said that beneficiaries should not be denied for want of Aadhaar or failure of Aadhaar authentication. So, keeping this in mind Delhi government decided to delink Aadhaar from Pension.

There is a circular given to the social welfare department from Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). It said that beneficiaries were not to be denied benefits, subsidy, or service for not having Aadhaar. Also, because of the failure to authenticate or any other reason.

According to the government, UIDAI gave suggestions to the social welfare department regarding this issue. In this, beneficiaries should be given the benefits on the basis of an alternate ID until the time an Aadhaar number is assigned. Even if, there is a failure to authenticate due to poor connectivity or problems with the biometrics of the person. The subsidy, service or benefit should be provided without any delay and harassment. So, Delink Aadhaar from pension.