AIMIM Prez Owaisi criticises West Ben gal over linking Welfare benefits to voter list
Hyderabad, June 6 (TNT): All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President and Hyderabad MP, Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday criticised the West Bengal government over reports that public distribution system (PDS) ration and other welfare benefits are being linked to the voter list following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Sharing on social media platform ‘ X’, Owaisi alleged that individuals marked as “absent” or “shifted” in the electoral rolls, as well as those who did not receive voter slips during the last election, were being denied welfare benefits despite being genuine and eligible citizens.
He questioned the use of the voter list as a criterion for access to welfare schemes, arguing that Aadhaar-based authentication already exists as a verification mechanism.
“Government schemes are not rewards for voters. They are meant for all eligible citizens,” Owaisi said, adding that linking welfare benefits to electoral rolls undermines the intent of social welfare programmes.
He alleged that the move would disproportionately impact vulnerable groups, including women, Scheduled Castes, and minorities, and described it as an attempt to reduce beneficiary numbers under the guise of verification.
Owaisi said welfare schemes are funded by public money and cannot be treated as discretionary benefits, asserting that access to them is a right of all eligible citizens.
He also criticised what he termed the politicisation of welfare delivery, saying such practices make life harder for the poorest sections of society.
TNT TS
