Aadhaar enabled government to eliminate middlemen: President

New Delhi, January 29

President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday said Aadhaar has helped the government in "eliminating middlemen" and save over Rs 57,000 crore.

"Aadhaar has helped in securing the rights of the poor by eliminating middlemen. At present, digital payments are being carried out in more than 400 schemes of the government," the President said in his address to the joint sitting of both the Houses.

He said through digital payments, the government was able to save over Rs 57,000 crore from reaching the middlemen.

Kovind also said the 'BHIM' application launched by the government is promoting digital transactions across the country.

"BHIM App is playing a major role in promoting digital transactions. The recently launched 'Umang App' has also made more than 100 public services available on mobile phones," he said.

The President said in the electronic manufacturing sector, there are now over 113 mobile phone companies working in the country.

"There were only two mobile manufacturing companies in India in 2014," he said. "Through this, the number of youths across the country are getting more opportunities of employment," he added.

The President hailed the Prime Minister's Rural Digital Literacy Programme, saying the government has started the world's largest digital literacy programme in the country.

"Under this programme, the government has been able to make over one crore people digitally literate," he added.

 "My government has brought the Triple Talaq Bill to safeguard the rights of the Muslim women. And I am hopeful that Parliament will pass the Bill," Kovind said in his address to the joint sitting of the both Houses.

He also said that the government has extended its 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' scheme from 161 districts to 640 districts in the country.

"The government has now amended the Maternity Bill by which the women can get 'paid leave' of up to 26 weeks instead of 12 weeks. Now the women can spend more time with their new born babies," he added.

Kovind also referred to contributions of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and said: "Babasaheb Ambedkar used to say that without economic and social democracy, political democracy is unstable."

The President said that Rs 5,35,000 crore have been allocated for the Bharatmala Project aimed at boosting road connectivity in the country.

“The government has approved the ambitious Bharatmala programme. About 53,000 km of national highways have been identified to increase efficiency of the national corridor...,” he said.

Bharatmala is an umbrella programme of the Centre that seeks to improve efficiency of road traffic movement in the country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps. IANS