Around 17 lakh applications for the Annapurna Yojana have been rejected after verification because of Aadhaar-related problems, the government said on Monday. The rejection comes just before the third installment of the direct cash transfer scheme for women is distributed.
The information was announced at a joint press conference held at Nabanna. Minister of State for Health Sumana Sarkar, Minister of State for Information and Cultural Affairs Purnima Chakraborty, and Women and Child Development Department Secretary Moumita Godara were present at the conference.
According to the government, the third installment of the scheme will be transferred between August 17 and 20. Around 1.45 crore beneficiaries will receive the money out of the total 1.62 crore applications received. The government has allocated Rs 4,350 crore for this installment.
According to sources at Nabanna, the main reason for rejection was that the applicants’ bank accounts were not linked with their Aadhaar numbers. Around 10 lakh of the 17 lakh rejected applications were reportedly rejected because of this issue.
Some other applications were rejected because the applicant or a member of their family was found to be working in a government job. In some cases, records also showed that the applicant or a family member was paying income tax, making them ineligible for the scheme.
The verification process was carried out to make sure that the financial assistance reaches only eligible beneficiaries. The government has said that the third installment will be deposited directly into the bank accounts of verified beneficiaries.
In conclusion, The Annapurna Yojana aims to provide financial support to women through direct cash transfers. The latest verification has removed a significant number of applicants from the list, mainly because of Aadhaar and eligibility-related issues.
