CBSE asks Mumbai schools to help students, staff get Aadhaar cards, they say no

CBSE chief RK Chaturvedi called for schools to support the central government’s drive on Thursday

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has asked all institutes affiliated to it to volunteer as Aadhaar enrolment centres, where students, staff and their family will be able to get unique identification numbers. But most Mumbai schools said that they already had a lot of academic work and this would be an addition to their burden.

The CBSE, which has a network of schools across India, has partnered with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) as a registrar to collect biometric and demographic data from residents directly or through enrolment agencies. (HT)

The CBSE, which has a network of schools across India, has partnered with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) as a registrar to collect biometric and demographic data from residents directly or through enrolment agencies.

CBSE chief RK Chaturvedi called for schools to support the central government’s drive on Thursday. “Under the new venture, CBSE seeks full cooperation from its affiliated schools to help students procure an Aadhaar number if they don’t have one. The schools should enrol such students now, and make sure that kids getting admitted to the primary section also get their Aadhaar procedure sorted,” said Chaturvedi.

According to the circular, the volunteer schools will have to procure electronic devices, such as printers, computers, biometric devices and other accessories as specified by the UIDAI, for Aadhar registrations. The schools will also have to allow CBSE authorities access to their premises and books.

School heads said that the board should have talked to them before taking such a decision. They said that they were already short of staff and space because of the various academic activities that they needed to carry out. “Schools are on a summer break now. Although our office is open, teachers and most of the staff are on leave. This is not the right time for us to conduct such enrolment camps. Where is the manpower?” said a principal of a CBSE school in Colaba.

Schools suggested involving Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and parent volunteers to help with the enrolment. They said that it will be possible to carry it out only on weekends. “We already held Aadhaar camps for students for a few days with the help of parents, but if we have to help their families and other residents to get their Aadhaar cards too, we will need PTAs to conduct the drives,” said Katherine James, principal, Orchids International School, Malad.