As the direct benefits transfer (DBT) scheme fails to meet its deadline, the Finance Ministry has asked the banks to advertise the need for  Aadhaar cards through various means, especially through technologies like SMS and emails.

According to a Business Standard report, the finance ministry, through a letter dated April 22, addressed to all public sector banks, has plotted out a strategy for seeding of Aadhaar details with bank accounts by May 15.
 
In the new directive, the ministry has asked the banks to issue advertisements in the print and electronic media. They have advised banks to put up banners in their branches and ATMs, conveying the same message.
 
Other initiatives include pre-recorded messages that will be sent from call centres to customers. An application will be developed for the collection of Aadhaar cards from customers through bulk SMSs/emails. In addition, customers may send out requirements for seeding of Aadhaar details using an interactive voice response application.
 
Meanwhile, banks can make use of the remote Aadhaar seeding framework to verify the customers’ details online.
Earlier in December, the planning commission had issued instructions for a camp based approach, in which the banks were seeding Aadhaar details whenever beneficiaries approached the banks.