Date: 2025-03-11Category: Not ApplicableState: Tamil NaduCountry: India
Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes And Minorities Welfare Department--Ulema and Employees Welfare Board under Section 7 of Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (Central Act 18 of 2016)
**Executive Summary**
This document is a notification from the Tamil Nadu Government's Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department, mandating the use of Aadhaar authentication for beneficiaries of the Ulema and Employees Welfare Board schemes. It outlines the requirements for Aadhaar authentication and provides alternative mechanisms for beneficiaries who do not have Aadhaar or face authentication issues. The notification is effective from the date of its publication in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette Extraordinary (March 11, 2025).
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Aadhaar Requirement:**
* Individuals eligible for benefits under the Ulema and Employees Welfare Board schemes must provide proof of Aadhaar number or undergo Aadhaar authentication.
* Those without Aadhaar must apply for it before registering for the scheme.
* **Alternative Identification:**
* Until Aadhaar is assigned, benefits can be provided upon producing the Aadhaar Enrolment Identification Slip and one of the following:
* Bank or Post Office Passbook with Photo
* PAN Card
* Passport
* Voter Identity Card
* Driving License
* Certificate of Identity from a Gazetted Officer or Tahsildar
* Any other document specified by the Department
* **Authentication Failure Remedies:**
* If Aadhaar authentication fails due to poor biometrics or other reasons, the following measures should be taken:
* Iris scan or face authentication should be used.
* Aadhaar one-time password (OTP) or time-based OTP should be offered if feasible.
* Benefits may be given based on the physical Aadhaar letter, with QR code verification.
* **Implementation:**
* The Department must ensure wide publicity of the Aadhaar requirement.
* The Department, through its Implementing Agency, is required to offer Aadhaar enrolment facilities for the beneficiaries who are not yet enrolled for Aadhaar.
* **Scheme Details**
* The notification applies to the Ulema and Employees Welfare Board schemes that support:
* Accidental Insurance
* Natural Death
* Funeral Expenses
* Scholarship
* Marriage assistance
* Maternity Assistance
* Abortion
* Reimbursement for cost of Spectacle
* Old Age Pension
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Beneficiaries of Ulema and Employees Welfare Board Schemes**
* **Impact:** Beneficiaries are now required to have Aadhaar or enroll for Aadhaar to continue receiving benefits under the schemes. They also have to be aware of the alternative authentication methods if their Aadhaar authentication fails.
* **Action Required:**
* Obtain Aadhaar if they do not already have it.
* Produce alternative identification documents if Aadhaar is not yet available.
* Be prepared to use alternative authentication methods (iris scan, face authentication, OTP, physical Aadhaar letter) if necessary.
**Stakeholder: Department of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare**
* **Impact:** Department and its Implementing Agencies must implement the Aadhaar authentication requirement and provide alternative identification and authentication options. They must also ensure wide publicity of the new requirements.
* **Action Required:**
* Establish Aadhaar enrollment facilities.
* Make arrangements for iris scanning, face authentication, and QR code verification.
* Provide public awareness campaigns about the Aadhaar requirement.
* Ensure that no bonafide beneficiary under the Scheme is deprived of his due benefits.
**Stakeholder: Implementing Agencies (Directorate of Backward Classes Welfare and Directorate of Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities Welfare Departments)**
* **Impact:** Implementing the Aadhaar authentication process for scholarship distribution and ensuring that beneficiaries have access to enrollment and authentication services.
* **Action Required:**
* Establish Aadhaar enrollment facilities.
* Make arrangements for iris scanning, face authentication, and QR code verification.
* Follow exception-handling mechanisms as outlined in the Office Memorandum of Direct Benefit Transfer Mission, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India, dated the 19th of December 2017.
* Make all the required arrangements to ensure that wide publicity through the media shall be given to the beneficiaries to make them aware of the said requirement.
Key Entities Referenced
Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016: Central law mandating Aadhaar for subsidies; this notification concerns its application to welfare schemes in Tamil Nadu.
Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department: The Tamil Nadu government department responsible for administering welfare schemes mentioned in the notification.
Ulema and Employees Welfare Board: Board under the Department for which Aadhaar authentication is being mandated.
Tamil Nadu: The state where the policy is applicable.
Scheme: The Post Matric Scholarship, Fee Education Scholarship to Degree Level, Free Education Scholarship to Polytechnic Level, Free Education Scholarship to Professional Level for Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities students administered by Tamil Nadu.