Illustration used for representational purpose

AURANGABAD: While the state government has ordered up to Rs 2 lakh crop loan waiver , advocacy groups working for the welfare of farmers have objected to the mandatory requirement of Aadhaar card for availing the benefit.

Highlighting the alleged inordinate delays in Aadhaar enrollment and update, farmer groups have raised apprehensions that the desired benefit might not reach several farmers for the want of Aadhaar card.

Farmers’ leader Jayaji Suryawanshi said it was unjust on part of the government to link the loan-waiver measure with Aadhaar card.

“While no official record of Aadhaar coverage among farmers is available with the government, we every day come across numerous complaints related to difficulties faced by farmers for Aadhaar enrolment and update,” he said.

Civic activist Abhijit Dhanorkar said it does not make much sense to ask farmers to produce Aadhaar card for getting loan waiver.

“Farmers are already getting all the government benefits in form of money directly depositing into their bank accounts. Such accounts are already KYC compliant and can easily ensure that no bogus beneficiary can reap the benefit of government welfare programmes,” he said.

When contacted, some Aadhaar enrollment agencies in the city admitted that the process of new registration for Aadhaar has slowed down in recent past.

