TIL Desk Business/ New Delhi/ A new storm is brewing. After demonetisation, it is the backdoor enforcement of Aadhaar identification for children to qualify for midday meals. The move is threatening to take the shape of the next direct conflict between academic policy implementation and the practical problem of unintended consequences on the ground.
Added to the mix is the evident violation of the Supreme Court’s orders that Aadhaar cannot be made a mandatory requirement for government welfare schemes. Effective July 1, 2017, a student without the Aadhaar ID would not be fed the midday meal given free in school. “Individuals desirous of availing the benefits under the (midday meal) scheme offered at the schools are required to furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar number or undergo Aadhaar authentication,”
“An individual desirous of availing the benefit under the scheme offered at the schools, who does not possess an Aadhaar number or has not yet enrolled for Aadhaar shall have to apply for Aadhaar enrolment by 30th June, 2017.”
