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All prisoners in Gujarat jails to get Aadhar cards

The 12,000-odd prisoners in Gujarat’s jails will not have to request for bail for applying for Aadhar card, which serves as proof of identity and address anywhere in India, to avail of countless benefits of government schemes.

By March 15, the Gujarat government will give the vital document with a unique 12-digit number for each Indian to all convicts and under-trials lodged in the state’s 26 jails.

Arrangements are being made to prepare the cards inside the jail premises after the Gujarat High Court told secretaries of home and revenue departments to create a mechanism for this.

Poverty-stricken Shobha Vaghela, wife of a prisoner, had approached the high court requesting bail for her husband Prakash. She contended that gas connection was in her husband’s name and without the Aadhaar card, the cash-strapped family would not be able to get subsidized gas cylinders and other benefits under various government schemes.

Gujarat High Court advocate Iqbal Khan told Khaleej Times that if this facility was available in all the jails across 28 states and seven union territories of India, it would be a boon for 385,135 prisoners.

mahesh@khaleejtimes.com