The unique identification number of simply Aadhaar Card-this name is now putting common people in the state on tenterhooks as the government said that households would not be entitled to subsidized LPG cylinders in case they don't get an Aadhaar card/ don't enroll for the same within February 15. While the subsidized cylinder is now costing about Rs. 420, persons without Aadhar cards would have to fork out an extra 600 bucks, which comes up to Rs. 1000 per cyclinder. The moment this news was out, people flocked to the counters to collect an application for Aadhar card and submit the same to get the card.

Is Aadhaar a boon and bane? If we put this question aside, as of now Aadhaar card is making people run common people from pillar to posts. The observers questioned how far would it be fair if people are told that subsidized gas would be stopped in case not holding Aadhaar card? What if a person fails to get the card in a stipulated time? Spending more than 50 per cent on domestic gas only because a person fails to get a unique identification number would only test the voters to the core, said observers. In fact, we overhead many people in city buses saying that one never knew whether electricity would be stopped to those without Aadhaar cards. The government should look into the issue and remove this tension from common people.

(AW Phani)