Voter ID Must for Panchayat Benefits, Opposition Links Move to SIR Deletions

India Today

A proposal to link Panchayati Raj welfare benefits to voter ID cards and biometric authentication rather than Aadhaar has triggered political debate amidst the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) controversy. Union Panchayati Raj Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh announced that beneficiaries will require their EPIC number and biometric authentication to access scheme payouts. The announcement comes as opposition parties allege mass disenfranchisement through the deletion of electors during SIR and electoral roll revisions, warning that voter list exclusions could directly impact welfare access. In response, the Election Commission stated that flagged category entries do not constitute wrongful deletions and that eligible voters may seek inclusion.

Transcript

00:00But let's now take you to what is taking place on the sidelines of this massive SIR debate

00:08which is playing out on the streets of the national capital.

00:11The latest in question is Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Lalan Singh,

00:16who said that voter ID cards, not Adhaar, voter ID cards and epic numbers

00:21will be the basis for availing benefits under Panchayati Raj schemes.

00:26He is, in fact, the Panchayati Raj minister.

00:28The announcement came amidst the opposition activist and citizens group

00:33raising concerns about how voters were being deleted during the SIR and electoral roll revision

00:40alleging that crores electors have been removed in this exercise.

00:44Here's a report.

01:05First, your name on the voter list was under scan.

01:10Now, your voter ID card could become a must for welfare benefits.

01:15A proposal to link Panchayat benefits to voter ID and biometrics

01:20has been made amid the political battle over SIR.

01:24Union Panchayati Raj minister, Lalan Singh, has announced a shift in beneficiary identification.

01:30Adhaar will no longer be the primary basis.

01:33Beneficiaries will need their epic number and biometric authentication to access benefits.

01:58The opposition has linked the move to SIR pointing to Bengal,

02:02where those marked deleted or absent have been excluded from automatic migration to schemes like Annapurna Bhandar.

02:11Those who have appealed before tribunals retain benefits pending a decision.

02:17The Congress alleges SIR is targeting voters unlikely to support the BJP,

02:23warning that electoral exclusion could also affect welfare access.

02:28More than 13 crore names were placed in flagged categories during the nationwide SIR,

02:33marked deceased, shifted, absent or duplicate.

02:37The Election Commission says,

02:39These are not 13 crore wrongful deletions and eligible voters can seek inclusion.

02:46But the opposition alleges mass disenfranchisement,

02:50taking its votatory charge to the streets.

02:54Now, the proposed voter ID requirement for Panchayat benefits

02:58has added a new dimension to the SIR battle.

03:02Bureau Report, India Today.

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