Aadhaar mandatory for mid-day meal, but only 20% students have it

Gautam Budh Nagar basic education department is in a fix as Aadhaar card has been made mandatory for midday meals from June 30 and only around 20% students currently have the cards. Even a special Aadhaar camp organised at the district collectorate failed to get students.

District basic education officer Parvesh Kumar Yadav said, ”School principals are in a fix as Aadhaar card has been made mandatory for midday meals from June 30. A majority of students do not have Aadhaar cards. We have requested a month’s time, as after the summer vacation we have planned Aadhaar camps at schools.”

There are presently around 63,500 students in the primary and junior high schools in the district.

“As schools are closed for summer vacation, we had appealed to parents to get Aadhaar cards made at the special camp held at the collectorate on June 2,” Yadav said.

Shubham Sharma, Gautam Budh Nagar district manager for CSCs and the in-charge of aadhaar camp said, ”Of the around 50 fresh aadhaar card applications received at the camp, only three were from students.”

Pawan Mangal, district informatics officer, National Informatics Centre, said, “The state government had deputed a company for making Aadhaar cards in schools for students. That company had not deputed any service provider in Gautam Budh Nagar district. With the help of permanent Aadhaar centres in the district, a special camp was organised at the Collectorate. Now these permanent Aadhaar centres have been asked to hold camps at schools after summer vacation.”

“As every year fresh enrolments is made at schools, Aadhar cards for new students have to be made every year,” Mangal said.

However, parents told officials they could not get the Aadhaar cards made as the collectorate is too far from their residence and a whole day is wasted in travel.

“Only camps at schools can ensure 100% enrolment,” Yadav said.