Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | PM lands in Maharashtra village, with a 12-digit number to a future

PM lands in Maharashtra village, with a 12-digit number to a future

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Sep 30, 2010   modified Modified on Sep 30, 2010


782474317884. Ranjana Sadashiv Sonawane is unable to read the 12-digit number printed on a piece of paper given to her. But the 41-year-old resident of Tembhli village in Nandurbar district, who created history on Wednesday by becoming the first person to get an unique identity number under the UPA government’s Aadhar project, is not willing to let such minor issues mar the celebrations.

“We will get many benefits. This will provide aadhar (foundation) at every step,” gushed Sonawane, who got the slip with her unique ID from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. “Like you, we want to live in pucca houses and eat good food. You and we have the same souls, so our poverty must be done away with,” said Sonawane who labours in nearby fields for a daily wage of Rs 50.

Sonawane, whose five-year-old son Hitesh also got a UID number, says she has been given to believe that Aadhar will serve as a catalyst in doing away the woes of the residents of this obscure village located on Maharashtra’s borders with Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. And what she heard from the Prime Minister and the Congress chief today seemed to reaffirm that promise.

“Nowhere in the world has technology been used in such a big way. I hope every citizen will get this number very soon,” Singh said as he launched the identification project which uses biometric data. He said the launch of Aadhar was symbolic of a new and modern India and also marked the start of a big, new effort for the welfare of the common man.

“The poor did not have any identity proof. Due to this shortcoming, they could not open bank accounts or get ration cards. They could not avail the benefits of government welfare programmes because of this and many times, these benefits were pocketed by others,” Singh said.

Gandhi said “the project launched from this village today, will reach over a billion people and is a historic step. Our goal is not only development but inclusive growth. We are using technology to better our lives. It can make the system transparent and ensure speedy delivery of resources to the needy without any malpractice.”

Critics of the unique ID project have opposed the multi-million dollar exercise saying it collects too much information about individuals, invades privacy and gives the state enormous power over people, among others. But in Tembhli, a village of 1,900 people, the concerns of the first recipients of the ID were much more simple and basic.

“We do not want gold and silver, but hope that poverty is done away with,” said Kantibai Nigude, a 65-year-old farm labourer, adding that she was happy that the visit of the Prime Minister to her village had also brought a cement road, electricity connections, streetlight poles, tarred roads and a drainage scheme.

In fact, all 10 residents of the village who got their Aadhar numbers on Wednesday seemed to have common demands: jobs to prevent seasonal migration to neighbouring Gujarat, a school catering to children above Class IV, concrete houses, education, and a state transport bus link to the village.

“Dil ke armaan pure ho gaye (all my dreams have been fulfilled),” said Arman Sheikh Munir Qureshi, who got his number 375434322229 from Singh. Qureshi hopes Aadhar will ensure better delivery of grains through fair price shops, enable him to open his own bank account without a problem and generally empower him.

Another recipient of the card, Devidas Mali, echoed that sentiment. “The card will do away with our troubles when it comes to issues such as getting ration from fair price shops and opening a bank account. This has been launched in Tembhli, which means we are in for a bright future,” he said.


The Indian Express, 30 September, 2010, http://www.indianexpress.com/news/PM-lands-in-Maharashtra-village--with-a-12-digit-number-to-a-future/690376


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close