10 things about the Aadhaar Bill you need to know

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday rejected the Rajya Sabha's amendments and the opposition's appeal to not make "haste", and passed the legislation that aims to use Aadhaar's unique identity number to better target subsidies. Here are 10 things you need to know about the Aadhaar Bill, the row over it being passed as a 'money bill', the uses of the Aadhaar card and the apprehensions over its misuse:

#1. Aadhaar Bill introduced in Lok Sabha as a money bill

Finance minister Arun Jaitley introduced 'The Aadhaar (Target Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016' on March 3 amid protests over the legislation being categorised as a money bill which does not need the approval of the Rajya Sabha.

Jaitley asserted that the Bill falls within the textbook definition of a 'money bill' and went on to remind the Congress of bills like the juvenile justice bill and the workman injury compensation bill that the Congress brought as money bills when it was in power.

Money bills can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha. The Upper House, where the ruling NDA lacks a majority, can only make recommendations but no amendments. The Rajya Sabha has to return money bills to the Lower House within 14 days from the date of receipt, failing which it is considered approved.

#2 Opposition's objections

The opposition, led by the Congress, asked the government to accept the Rajya Sabha's recommendations on provisions relating to "national security", "public safety", the inclusion of CVC and CAG in the oversight committee and penal provisions to ensure the privacy of individuals is not violated.

Giving reasons for not accepting the amendments, Jaitley said "these amendments have dangerous consequences as they gave wide power to the government to share information."

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wanted the words 'national security' to be replaced by "public emergency and public safety" for sharing the bio-metric details. Jaitley further said while "national security" is a defined phrase and is mentioned in the Constitution, terms public emergency and public safety can be subject to wide interpretation. The minister said that opposition to the Aadhaar Bill was with a "political motive" and most of the amendments were not part of the UPA Bill.

#3 Congress rages at money bill route, may move court

The Aadhaar bill was brought as a money bill with respect to which the Rajya Sabha (RS) has limited powers. The TS and cannot amend a money bill, it only suggest amendments. The debate on the bill in the upper house was heated as opposition members questioned the decision to convert it into a money bill.

The Congress on Wednesday threatened to move court against the Centre's decision to present the Aadhaar Bill as a "money bill" and accused the Modi regime of fraudulently trying to bypass the RS where it does not have a majority.

#4 Use of Aadhaar to save thousands of crores of rupees

The government considers the Aadhaar bill to be a significant instrument for implementing its direct benefit transfer (DBT) schemes by better targeting its beneficiaries. At present, the Aadhaar card is used for the public distribution system, LPG subsidies, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), the Jan Dhan Yojana, pension and provident fund schemes.

Arun Jaitley said thousands of crores of rupees would be saved by plugging leakages and diversions. Jaitley said targeted subsidy through Aadhaar cards of LPG consumers had resulted in savings of over Rs 15,000 crore at the Centre. Four states which had started PDS delivery by a similar exercise on a pilot basis, had saved more than Rs 2,300 crore. Parliamentary affairs minister M Venkaiah Naidu had said new Aadhaar Bill would save Rs 20,000 crore by avoiding subsidies taken by the undeserving.

#5 Aadhaar not mandatory

Jaitley said that Aadhaar was not mandatory and when people don't have it, alternative documents will be prescribed. The users would be predominantly state governments. "Tomorrow if the Tamil Nadu government decides that people below a certain income would get some benefits then it is mandatory if you want benefits," he said, as an example.

#6 Not a proof of citizenship

Clause 9 of the Bill states that the Aadhaar number or its authentication shall not, by itself, confer any right of, or be proof of, citizenship or domicile.

#7 Sharing of information

As per the Aadhaar Bill, one authority is created in Delhi, and it will decide on sharing of information. The decision of that authority can be reviewed by a committee headed by a cabinet secretary, in three months. However, the details can be shared only under two circumstances: National security and a court order.

#8 Bio-metric data

Jaitley said that some personal information can be shared with the consent of the individual but core bio-metric details cannot be shared even with the consent of an individual.

#9 Punishment

Disclosure of information in breach of the Aadhaar law will lead to imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of Rs 10,000, which will be Rs 1 lakh in case of a company.

#10 Aadhaar in numbers

According to finance minister Arun Jaitley, 97 per cent of adults have Aadhaar cards while 67 per cent of minors have it as well. Five to seven lakh people are being added every day, he said.

source:timesofindia