Javadekar assures genuine students will get mid-day meal even if they don't have Aadhaar

Javadekar's comments came in wake of the Supreme Court's decision that Aadhaar cards cannot be made mandatory by the government and its agencies for extending benefits of social welfare schemes.

New Delhi, March 27: HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday said that no genuine student will be denied mid-day meal for the lack of Aadhaar card.

Javadekar's comments came in wake of the Supreme Court's decision that Aadhaar cards cannot be made mandatory by the government and its agencies for extending benefits of social welfare schemes.

"No genuine student will be denied mid-day meal. We will give meals and also Aadhaar cards to students," he told reporters.

The Human Resource Development Ministry had earlier this month made an announcement that cook-cum-helpers working under the mid-day meal scheme as well as the student beneficiaries will now be required to have an Aadhaar card to avail the benefits.

The Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL), under the HRD Ministry, had also decided to give a window till June 30 to those who do not have an Aadhaar card.

However, after facing flak from opposition parties over the issue, the government had also stated that no one will be deprived of the benefits of subsidy schemes for the want of Aadhaar number and other identity proofs will be accepted.

The Supreme Court today made it clear that Aadhaar cards cannot be made mandatory by the government and its agencies for extending benefits of social welfare schemes.

A bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul, however, said the government and its agencies cannot be stopped from seeking Aadhaar cards for non-welfare schemes like opening of bank accounts.

PTI