Bengaluru: The state government has directed the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to collect Aadhar number of all schoolchildren, but the latter has also made it clear that no one should be forced to avail the card against their wish. The DPI said the move would help them implement various schemes effectively.
As per the latest direction issued to the school headmasters, necessary measures should be taken to generate Aadhar card at school level. However, keeping in mind the public outrage against making the card compulsory and the recent Supreme Court judgment in this regard, the DPI has warned headmasters against forcing the students to get the card.
According to the latest circular issued to all the schools majority of the students are yet to get their Aadhar numbers. An official told this newspaper that state government has directed the department to collect Aadhar numbers of all the students as it would help them monitor the effective implementation of the various schemes and track the academic progress of the students.
"As per the direction, all the schools need to provide the Aadhar number of their students. If their students yet to get the Aadhar card, school headmasters are directed to hold Aadhar camps at campus to ensure all the students get the number," he explained.
Not mandatory: According to the circular headmasters are also directed not to force any student to get the Aadhar card. "It is optional for students. Not mandatory. But as it is useful even for students, we will convince every one to get their Aadhar cards," he said.
Private schools upset: Meanwhile, private schools are not happy with the idea of making the Aadhar card compulsory and setting up of Aadhar distribution centers at the school level. "Schools are already burdened with a lot of clerical works. To generate an Aadhar card, there is need of collecting of several documents which is a big task. So we cannot follow the directions. As Aadhar is not compulsory, DPI cannot impose it on us," said a principal of a reputed school.
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