LS begins discussion on bill for voluntary use of Aadhaar

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Thursday began discussion on a bill that provides for voluntary use of Aadhaar number in physical or electronic form by authentication or offline verification with the consent of the individual.
Moving The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 for consideration and passage in the House, Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government has saved Rs 7.48 lakh crore in the past five years using direct benefit transfer.
“We have saved money siphoned off by middleman. Aadhar has proved its usefulness,” he said.
The bill seeks to replace an ordinance promulgated in March this year and amend the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 and further to amend the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002.
Prasad said that the amendments to the Aadhaar Act will give an option to children to cancel their Aadhaar number on attaining the age of eighteen years.
He said the bill provides for voluntary use of Aadhaar, which means consent is necessary.