The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government notified the mandatory furnishing of Aadhaar card details for those seeking subsidy on e-rickshaws registered in the city, in a step ostensibly aimed at prevention of “duplicacy” in grant of financial assistance related to procurement of such vehicles.
Relief of ₹30,000
As per a notice issued by the government, owners of registered e-rickshaws in Delhi will now be considered for subsidy of ₹30,000 only after providing their Aadhaar card details.
As per the latest figures available with the Transport Department, there are over 31,000 registered e-rickshaws in Delhi.
All registered e-rickshaw owners whose subsidy claims are pending will now be required to submit photocopies of their Aadhaar card and registration certificate at the office of the Motor Licensing Officer (MLO) concerned by June 30.
Subsidy claims will not be considered if Aadhaar card details and registration certificate copies are not submitted by the due date, the notice stated.
Provision in budget
The subsidy scheme was launched by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at a rally of e-rickshaw drivers here in February last year.
The Delhi government, in its current budget, has earmarked ₹1.06 crore for providing subsidy to e-rickshaw owners.
The scheme had failed to take off since its launch due to claimants furnishing varying documents seeking the subsidy. Only around 3,000 e-rickshaw owners have availed financial assistance so far.
Process streamlined
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has streamlined the process of registration and grant of subsidy to e-rickshaw owners and tried to avoid duplication by making Aadhaar card details mandatory.
In the case of e-rickshaws that are already registered, the MLOs concerned will obtain Aadhaar card numbers from beneficiaries before reimbursement of subsidy, the committee said in its directive.
