Suryaa National Desk: Union Minister for Panchayati Raj Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh has announced key changes to the beneficiary identification and fund transfer process for central government welfare schemes. Speaking in New Delhi, he stated that Voter ID (EPIC) numbers and biometric verification will now serve as the standard, replacing the existing Aadhaar-based payment system.
The Minister explained that the decision was made because the easy availability of Aadhaar cards could lead to reduced oversight and a potential increase in fake beneficiaries. He noted that the government's primary objective is to enhance transparency in welfare benefits and ensure that every eligible individual receives them.
He clarified that the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) process will proceed strictly on the basis of the EPIC number from the Voter ID and direct biometric authentication. Comprehensive guidelines regarding this new implementation will be released soon.