Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Tuesday said Aadhaar has emerged as a crucial tool for ensuring good governance, transparency and ease of living.
Kataria, who also serves as the Administrator of Chandigarh, noted that Aadhaar enables the government to ensure that welfare benefits reach the intended beneficiaries while curbing fraud and eliminating fake identities.
He was speaking as the chief guest at a state-level workshop titled ‘Driving Maximum out of Aadhaar’. Highlighting its impact, Kataria said Aadhaar has strengthened the rural economy by directly linking citizens with both state and central governments through bank accounts, facilitating Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
He explained that this system ensures subsidies and financial assistance are transferred directly and transparently to eligible individuals. Aadhaar has also simplified access to government services and improved delivery mechanisms, especially for underserved sections of society, he added.
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Kataria further said Aadhaar has become an integral part of daily life, from birth registration to healthcare services such as Ayushman Bharat. By helping accurately identify beneficiaries and enhance inclusion, it is bridging the rural-urban divide and contributing to the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
Speaking at the event, Punjab Chief Secretary K A P Sinha said Aadhaar has addressed several challenges faced by both citizens and the administration in delivering government scheme benefits. He described it as deeply embedded in everyday life, with applications ranging from property transactions and health insurance claims to procurement of agricultural produce, pension distribution, and implementation of the National Food Security Act in Punjab.
Sinha added that Aadhaar has played a key role in eliminating ghost beneficiaries from welfare systems.
Meanwhile, Bhuvnesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of the Unique Identification Authority of India, said Aadhaar has become a foundational platform for connecting citizens with mainstream services and accessing a wide range of government schemes. He noted that the system has evolved beyond its original scope and is now used across multiple sectors, from birth registration to healthcare, making it relevant in nearly every aspect of public service delivery.
The workshop also focused on enhancing coordination among stakeholders and leveraging technology to further strengthen transparency and efficiency in service delivery.
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