The Governor of Punjab and Administrator, UT, Chandigarh, V.P. Singh Badnore today called upon the youth especially the students to ensure Chandigarh as the First Cashless City of India.Addressing a function to mark the celebration of Chandigarh attaining 100% Aadhaar saturation as per the estimated population figure of 2015 at Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, the Governor said that the population of Chandigarh being an agile and educated would understand the meaning of demonetization in the true spirit and thereby making Chandigarh as India’s First Cashless City. Accepting this Challenge, a number of Educational Institutions have already initiated the procedure to make it cashless, said the Governor.Referring to the Aadhaar initiative, the Governor said that uniqueness of Aadhaar identity allows elimination of fake and duplicate accounts, and online authentication provides a mechanism for paperless, electronic and instantaneous verification of identity, anytime anywhere. He also said that to ensure absolute transparency, the Government of India has also linked Aadhaar with various Central schemes such as Scheme (MGNREGA), National Social Assistance Program (Pension Schemes), Public Distribution System, Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG, Prime Minister's Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) and Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO).Underlying the benefits of Aadhaar Saturated Society, the Governor said that besides enabling the beneficiaries to get benefits of various welfare schemes and projects, the crime detection even from across the State could also be detected effectively with the help of Aadhaar details.
Speaking on the occasion, Mrs. Kirron Kher, Member of Parliament, congratulated the citizens, Administration and UIDAI officials for this achievement.Sh.Ram Subhag Singh, Deputy Director General, Unique Identification Authority of India(UIDAI) Regional Office said that the Chandigarh expressed his gratitude towards the Governor, for his constant guidance, in ensuring 100% Aadhaar saturation is achieved in Chandigarh. He also thanked the Administration for linking Aadhaar with various schemes to ensure effective and smooth delivery of payments to the intended beneficiaries and ensuring transparency. UIDAI will now focus on expediting Aadhaar enrolment in the age group of 0-5 years and 5- 18 years.Later, the Governor also gave away prizes to the four winners of an Essay competition in which more than 700 students from 65 Government Schools of Chandigarh participated. The first prize of Rs. 10,000/- was won by Bhupesh Verma from Government Model High School, Khuda Jassu, Second prize of Rs. 7000/- to Deepika from Government High School, Sector 38 West and third prize of Rs. 5000 each was given to Tania Nagrath from Government Model Sr. Secondary School, Sector 18 and Nisha from Government Model Sr. Secondary School, Sector 15, Chandigarh.Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Mr. Parimal Rai, Adviser to the Administrator and other senior officers of the Chandigarh Administration, Principals of Government Schools and students.