(TOI)
The government has made Aadhaar mandatory to avail of benefits under nearly three dozen central schemesapart from the midday meal scheme at schools and the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan. The government says it will help people who don’t have the biometric identity document to get it without any inconvenience by June 30.
“Seventy-five percent of children between five and 18 years of age have Aadhaar in states where it is being made mandatory. Almost every adult in the country has an Aadhaar,” a top government official said. “Children who do not have an Aadhaar will be enrolled by their school itself for the same by June 30 … so, there is no question of any child being denied a midday meal by states or they being made to run around for it. Same goes for the 30-odd other schemes in question.”
Aadhaar will soon be mandatory for all 84 schemes covered so far under direct subsidy benefit transfer programme, the official said. Those without an Aadhaar can apply for the identity card by June 30 and get benefits till then by furnishing alternative documents, he added.
