Only students with Aadhaar to get mid-day meal
Students will now be required to have an Aadhaar number for getting their mid-day meals across the country. The HRD ministry issued a notification in this regard on Friday.
Cook-cum-helpers working under the mid-day meal scheme will also have to furnish Aadhaar number.
However, the ministry has given time till June 30 for those who are not yet enrolled. “The use of Aadhaar as identity document for delivery of services, benefits or subsidies simplifies the government delivery process and enables beneficiaries to get their entitlements directly and in a seamless manner,” reads the notification.
According to the ministry, the move is aimed at ensuring greater transparency and to increase overall efficiency. Of the total enrolment of 13.16 crore children, 10.03 crore children availed mid-day meal on an average basis in 11.50 lakh schools during 2015-16.
The central government has been trying to link the Aadhaar number with subsidy schemes related to school education.
“A notification will be sent to schools that students desirous of availing the benefits under the mid-day meal scheme will be required to furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar number or undergo the authentication,” said a senior official. The cookcum-helpers engaged under the scheme for preparing and serving mid-day meals at schools are hon orary workers who come forward to render social services.
“They are also treated as bene ficiaries under the scheme and hence they will also be required to furnish Aadhaar numbers,” said a senior official.
In an inter-ministerial meet ing earlier this year, human resource development ministry had raised concerns over the decision to use the Aadhaar num ber as an identification document for receiving benefits under various school-related schemes saying the plan needs more deliberation.