Kodagu rains: Aadhaar to the rescue

MADIKERI: Government agencies are likely to rely on the much-loathed Aadhar card to ensure benefits of relief schemes reach intended targets. Sources in the Kodagu district administration say Aadhaar will be used extensively in rehabilitation and relief work.

Officials say Aadhaar seeding with ration cards is 100% in the district.

"Many people say they have lost all their documents including ration cards and bank passbooks,” an official said. “Since these utility services are already linked to Aadhaar, the administration will find it easy to trace beneficiaries and ensure relief measures reach them directly.”

The official went on to say, “Those who are from the upper-middle class and affluent families have multiple identity cards including Pan card. With the poor it’s a different story. They don’t have Pan cards. Ration ration cards and Aadhaar are their only identity documents. Since most have lost ration cards, Aadhaar will play a key role. We can't make Aadhaar mandatory, but it will be used.”

Volunteers working in relief camps also say an ID card is necessary. “Even the affluent are queuing up for relief benefits,” said Shrividya, a volunteer. “Some families are taking more than one share by making others stand in the queue.”