Mandatory Aadhaar Card for availing School Facilities

Mandatory Aadhaar Card for availing School Facilities

During 2015-16, 10.03 crore children studying in 11.50 lakh institutions availed mid- day-meal on school working days across the country.

Aadhaar is being used as an identifier in respect of following school education related schemes:

(i) Centrally Sponsored Scheme for providing quality education in Madrasa (SPQEM)

(ii) Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS)

(iii) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)

(iv) Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA)

(v) Inclusive Education for Disabled at Secondary Stage (IEDSS)

(vi) National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE)

(vii) National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS)

Mid-day-meal scheme is covered under the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016. A notification has been published in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary) dated 28th February, 2017 which came into effect in all States and Union Territories except in the States of Assam, Meghalaya and the State of Jammu & Kashmir. As per the notification, the beneficiaries are required to furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar number or undergo Aadhaar authentification and if not enrolled for Aadhaar, shall have to apply for Aadhaar enrolment by 30th June, 2017. Provided that till the time Aadhaar is assigned to the individual, he/she shall be entitled for benefit subject to the production of the following identification documents, namely:

(i) If he or she has enrolled, his or her Aadhaar Enrolment Id slip; or

(ii) A copy of his or her application made for Aadhaar Enrolment and an undertaking by the parent or legal guardian that the child is not availing benefit from any other school and any one of the documents mentioned in the notification.

The use of Aadhaar as identity document for delivery of services or benefits or subsidies simplifies the Government delivery processes, brings in transparency and efficiency, and enables beneficiaries to get their entitlements directly to them in a convenient and seamless manner and Aadhaar obviates the need for producing multiple documents to prove one’s identity.

The above information given by the Minister of HRD Shri Upendra Kushwaha in Parliament on 27.3.2017.