Loan waiver tough for Madhya Pradesh farmers with no Aadhaar card

NEW DELHI: Faced with complaints that farmers who do not have an Aadhaar number are facing problems in filling up loan waiver forms, the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh has ordered that such farmers be immediately enrolled in the unique identification programme. In such cases, it said, the enrolment number can be cited in the loan waiver form instead of the Aadhaar number.

ET had earlier reported that the Congress government in the state had made Aadhaar compulsory for the loan waiver exercise and that farmers were required to mention their Aadhaar number and attach a copy of their Aadhaar card to the loan waiver form. “Some district collectors have informed that there are farmers who do not have an Aadhaar number and they are facing difficulties in filling up the loan waiver forms. Such beneficiaries should be immediately identified and steps taken to get their Aadhaar card made or help them obtain enrolment identification numbers,” the Madhya Pradesh government’s Farmer Welfare Department said on Monday in an order, a copy of which was seen ET. Around 4.4 million farmers, out of the estimated 5.5 million eligible farmers in the state, have filled up the loan waiver form so far.

The government, in its missive to all district magistrates, said an Aadhaar enrolment identification number is generated once a person enrols for the unique identification number, and in case there is no discrepancy in the application, an Aadhaar number is generated by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) within three to seven days. “This enrolment identification number can also be cited in the loan waiver form,” the state government said. The UIDAI is making Aadhaar cards available through banks and post offices where farmers can apply for the unique identification number. “Also, in all 51 districts, biometric machines have been provided by Madhya Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation (MPSIDC) to district collectors to enrol people for Aadhaar. Hence, steps be taken to enrol farmers for Aadhaar through these facilities if they do not have one,” the state government said.