Benefit of midday meal scheme to continue without Aadhaar

After a backlash, the Centre has clarified that no one will be deprived of the benefits of subsidy schemes for the want of an Aadhaar number. Other identity proofs will be accepted, the HRD ministry has clarified. The clarification comes after several persons objected to the announcement of making Aadhaar mandatory for getting scholarship benefits under the midday meal scheme.

Till Aadhaar number is assigned to any individual, the benefit will continue to be given based on alternate means of identification," an official statement said.

"In case of Mid-Day Meal scheme and under the Integrated Child Development Scheme, schools and anganwadis have been asked to collect Aadhaar number of the beneficiaries and in case a child does not have Aadhaar, the functionaries will be required to provide enrollment facilities and till then the benefits will continue," the statement read.

OneIndia