Aadhaar now needed for availing food under National Nutrition Mission
What's the story
The scope of Aadhaar has been extended more. The ID will now be required for children accessing food under the National Nutrition Mission.
According to MoS Women and Child Development Virendra Kumar, this simplifies the delivery process and brings in transparency.
Those not possessing Aadhaar will be helped by functionaries to procure the ID. Till then, they will be provided services under alternate documents.
Benefits
How would Aadhaar help the Mission?
"Aadhaar obviates the need for producing multiple documents to prove one's identity. Aadhaar would be unique identity of the beneficiaries," Kumar said in the Lok Sabha.
This would help the authorities to track children for nutritional programs and also to gauge the under-nutrition status in the country.
Currently, there's no survey to identify fraudulent registration of children in the Mission, he said.
Information
What services require you to have Aadhaar?
As of now, Aadhaar is mandatory for various schemes, including pension, scholarships, LPG connections, Public Provident Fund, NSCs/KVPs etc, SIM cards, bank accounts and more. The deadline to link Aadhaar to such services stands at March 31, 2018.
SC
Final SC hearing on mandatory Aadhaar in January
The SC is hearing petitions against mandatory Aadhaar and will conduct the final hearing on January 17, 2018.
Those arguing against Aadhaar said the Center shouldn't be allowed to take coercive action if someone refuses to provide Aadhaar details.
Despite the SC insisting no one can be deprived based on Aadhaar, the Center has extended its scope more and more.
Do you know?
When people need Aadhaar even for paid sex!
It recently emerged that Aadhaar helps not just the authorities, but anti-social elements too. Pimps in Goa were found asking their clients for Aadhaar to verify they weren't decoy police personnel!