No Aadhaar, No Access to Nutrition Schemes in Maharashtra

The Maharashtra govt has announced that Aadhaar cards will be made mandatory for state-run free nutrition scheme.

The Maharashtra government has announced that Aadhaar cards will be made mandatory to avail any state run free nutrition scheme.

(Photo: The Quint)

In a bid to stop the misuse of benefits and prevent irregularities, the Maharashtra government has announced that Aadhaar cards will be made mandatory to avail any state-run free nutrition scheme, reported DNA.

Nutrition schemes meant for malnourished children, pregnant and lactating women, can no longer be availed without an Aadhaar card across Maharashtra.

On 6 April, Maharshtra Women and Child Development (WCD) department put out a notification making it “necessary” to start registering Aadhaar card numbers of the beneficiaries.

According to The Indian Express report, the WCD stated:

If a beneficiary is found with no registered Aadhaar number or has not followed the procedure to apply for Aadhaar, and continues to avail the scheme, the Child Development Project Officer will be held responsible.

This development will affect over five lakh pregnant and lactating mothers, and over 61 lakh children aged less than six, reported Indian Express.

A number of social activists have, however, slammed the government’s move.

Activist Purnima Upadhyay from NGO Khoj in malnutrition affected Melghat told The Indian Express that the notification does not correspond with the High Court’s ruling on Aadhaar.

This notification is against the recent Supreme Court ruling on Aadhaar linkage for receiving benefits under a scheme. We will approach the High Court if the state government does not withdraw this.

Purnima Upadhyay

Activist Brian Lobo flagged issues related to Aadhaar linkages.

Aadhaar linkage for nutrition schemes should not be made compulsory. Several tribal women get their Aadhaar cards made at their maternal home. When they get married, their first name and surname change. They face issues in availing schemes because the name on the Aadhaar card does not match their new name.

Brian Lobo

(With inputs from Indian Express, DNA)