Lok Sabha Question No. 2327 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-31
Subject: Aadhaar for Social Welfare
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAJESH RANJAN  (PAPPU  YADAV)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2327 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2017

## Aadhaar for Social Welfare

## 2327. SHRI RAJESH RANJAN:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Aadhaar enrolment in schools is voluntary and can be used as a condition for a social welfare scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) if  not,  whether  the  Government  has  issued  any  notification  linking  Mid  Day  Meal  to Aadhaar be withdrawn and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether it is a fact that Aadhaar card can be issued on the consent given by minors in this regard and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

- (a) & (b): Aadhaar is being used as an identifier in respect of following school education related schemes:
- (i) Centrally Sponsored Scheme for providing quality education in Madrasa (SPQEM)
- (ii) Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS)
- (iii) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)
- (iv) Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA)
- (v) Inclusive Education for Disabled at Secondary Stage (IEDSS)
- (vi) National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE)
- (vii) National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS)

Mid-day-meal scheme is covered under the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services)  Act, 2016. A notification has been published in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary) dated 28 th February, 2017 which came into effect in all States and Union Territories except in the States of Assam, Meghalaya and the State of Jammu & Kashmir.  As per the notification, the beneficiaries are required to furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar number or  undergo  Aadhaar  authentication  and  if  not  enrolled  for  Aadhaar,  shall  have  to  apply  for Aadhaar enrolment by 30 th June, 2017 (the time limit has later been extended upto 31 st August, 2017  and  further  extended  upto  30 th September  2017),  provided  that  till  the  time  Aadhaar  is assigned to the individual, he/she shall be entitled for benefit subject to the production of the following identification documents, namely:

- (i) If he or she has enrolled, his or her Aadhaar Enrolment Id slip; or
- (ii) A copy of his or her application made for Aadhaar Enrolment and an undertaking by the parent or legal guardian that the child is not availing benefit from any other school and any one of the documents mentioned in the notification.

The use of Aadhaar as identity document for delivery of services or benefits or subsidies, simplifies the Government delivery processes, brings in transparency and efficiency, and enables beneficiaries to get their entitlements directly to them in a convenient and seamless manner and Aadhaar obviates the need for producing multiple documents to prove one's identity.

(c): The  'consent'  under  the  Aadhaar  (Targeted  Delivery  of  Financial  and  Other  Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (Aadhaar Act) is in the form of Informed Consent/Disclosure. Section  3  (2)  of  the  Aadhaar  Act  provides  that  the  enrolling  agency  shall,  at  the  time  of enrolment,  inform  the  individual  undergoing  enrolment  the  manner  in  which  the  information collected  shall  be  used,  the  nature  of  recipients  with  whom  the  information  is  intended  to  be shared during authentication and the existence of right to access information.

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