Amicro ATM fitted with micro chips and mobile SIM card has created revolution and generated hopes for something unique in the future. When 57 elderly persons and 128 students received old age pension and scholarship respectively through Aadhaar number by merely touching the identification screen of the ATM at Dokahatu panchayat in Ramgarh district, on Thursday, it was a moment of history in the making.

Jharkhand became the first State in the country where beneficiaries received payments of the social security schemes online, on the basis of their linked Aadhaar numbers — a concept of the Unique ID Authority of India (UIDAI) which chose Jharkhand as the testing ground.

"The authentication process has 85 per cent success rate in the first phase. It is very encouraging," said RS Sharma, Director General of the UIDAI.

Sharma who was present on the occasion termed it a pioneering step that will be of great help to the people. "It is a historic moment. People now can receive payments at their doorstep through this ATM. In fact they can avail this facility in any part of the country provided they have an Aadhaar number. Now they will not have to travel miles to go to a bank and post office to get it," he said.

Though, Aadhaar drive has been going on in 16 States of the country where the Authority plans to enlist 40 crore people, but Jharkhand topped the tally as far as the number of people brought within Aadhaar ambit is concerned. So far in Jharkhand 82, 74,249 people have been given their Aadhaar number while 53, 71,611 people have been provided with the card. "By end of March 2013 the rest will be provided with cards," Sharma said.

The State Government and Chief Minister Arjun Munda took particular interest for a successful drive of the UIDAI in Jharkhand by facilitating required support. Sharma who served in Jharkhand gave priority to the State which is evident from the fact that the Authority chose five blocks Ratu (Ranchi district), Hazaribagh Sadar, Katkam Sandi (Hazaribagh district), Dohakatu (Ramgarh) and Chandil (Seraikela district) to launch pilot project of the UIDAI where payments to MGNREGS workers are made through UID number.

The initiative of payments through Aadhaar will end malpractices of the officials at the lower level, often blamed for indulging in corruption in the payments of MGNREGA wages, old age pension, scholarship and others. The government will be able to deposit the requisite amount into the bank accounts of beneficiaries of schemes.