New Delhi : Children will not be deprived of mid-day meals if they do not have an Aadhaar card, government said today.
The issue was raised by Congress leader Motilal Vohra during the Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, saying the government has made Aadhaar mandatory under the mid-day meal scheme.
"It seems the government has decided to take away the free food scheme from school children," he said, adding that about 12 crore children are enrolled under the scheme.
HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar refuted the suggestion saying all beneficiaries will get mid-day meals and the government will ensure that all the beneficiaries get the 12-digit unique identification number also.
"I want to tell this House that no one will be deprived of mid-day meals. Everybody will get mid-day meal and they will get Aadhaar card as well," the Minister said.
He said a large number of beneficiaries already have the Aadhaar card and facilities will be made to enroll the remaining students as well.
Mr Javadekar said in cases where facilities for Aadhaar cannot be created, the state governments will provide the unique numbers to the students.
He said that since the linking of Aadhaar cards with the mid-day meal scheme, leakages have come down.
The issue was raised by Congress leader Motilal Vohra during the Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, saying the government has made Aadhaar mandatory under the mid-day meal scheme.
"It seems the government has decided to take away the free food scheme from school children," he said, adding that about 12 crore children are enrolled under the scheme.
"I want to tell this House that no one will be deprived of mid-day meals. Everybody will get mid-day meal and they will get Aadhaar card as well," the Minister said.
Advertisement
Mr Javadekar said in cases where facilities for Aadhaar cannot be created, the state governments will provide the unique numbers to the students.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
24 Students Fall Ill After Eating Midday Meal In Odisha School Video Of Little Girl Posing For Aadhar Card Pic Is Viral. Internet Call Her "Parle G Girl" Update Your Aadhar Details For Free Till This Date. Details Inside Life On Earth Originates From One Ancestor, Older Than Previously Believed Villagers Try To Drive Away Elephant With Spiked Rods, Fireballs. It Dies Siddaramaiah's Swipe At Governor Amid Calls For Resignation: 10 Points Bengal Health Department Cancels Transfer Order Of 42 Doctors Amid Protests "Illusion": Hamas Official Dismisses US Optimism Over Gaza Ceasefire Talks 2 Killed In West Bank Strike, Israel Says It Targeted "Terrorist Cell'' Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.