Aadhaar Mandatory for Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board Housing!
In a significant move, the Tamil Nadu government announced that Aadhaar authentication is now mandatory for availing houses under the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) projects.
According to a government order (GO) issued by Kakarla Usha, Principal Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department, beneficiaries must provide proof of their Aadhaar number or undergo Aadhaar authentication. The order states that houses for slum dwellers, the homeless, and economically weaker sections, subsidized by the central and state governments, will be allotted by the TNUHDB per the scheme guidelines. In line with Section 7 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, Aadhaar proof or authentication is required.
Beneficiaries without Aadhaar must apply for it before registering for the housing scheme. Until Aadhaar is assigned, benefits will be given upon presenting the Aadhaar enrollment identification slip and an additional ID such as a ration card, bank passbook, voter ID, driving license, MGNREGA card, passport, or PAN card.
Criticizing the move, J Sebastian, coordinator of the People`s Struggle Committee for the Rights of Livelihood (PSCRL), said, "The TNUHDB was established to provide houses to the poor who are homeless, living on roadsides, and riverbanks. Do homeless people have government IDs, including Aadhaar? Such practices seem aimed at selling houses to the rich instead of the poor."
