Bhubaneswar: Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida clarified on Thursday that linking Aadhaar with a phone number is not mandatory for online registration under the Odisha government’s Subhadra Yojana.
During her visit to the Subhadra Help Desk at an Anganwadi centre in Shrikhetra Colony, Puri, Parida interacted with applicants submitting their forms for the welfare scheme. Officials informed the Deputy CM that around 80% of eligible women beneficiaries had already completed their registration forms.
Parida directed officials to ensure that no eligible beneficiary is excluded from the scheme and to spread awareness about the government’s helpline (14678) for any registration-related queries.
Addressing concerns regarding the Aadhaar-phone number link, Parida explained that beneficiaries can still register for the scheme even if their Aadhaar number is not linked to a phone. “Aadhaar can be verified through biometric processes, and submission of forms is possible without the Aadhaar-phone link,” she assured the crowd.
Despite previous clarifications that there is no deadline for registration, long queues were seen at post offices and Seva Kendras across the state on Thursday, as citizens rushed to update their Aadhaar details for registration under the Subhadra Yojana.