The Bombay High Court directed not to deny Food Benefits under Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) to Kids who are without Aadhaar. The Bombay High Court was hearing a public interest litigation which was filed by Maharashtra Rajya Anganwadi Karmachari Sangh, who is a union of anganwadi workers.
According to the notice passed, the Integrated Child Development Scheme commissioner was instructed not to fill any vacant posts in Anganwadi across the state, merge anganwadis that cater to fewer children, and make mandatory the linking of Aadhaar for children who avail benefits from the scheme.
The communication was issued pursuant to directions issued by the finance department.
The above directions would make children’s deprive from the benefits who do not have Aadhaar Card, said the division bench of justice Abhay Oka and justice Mahesh Sonak, adding that this would defeat the very object of the scheme.
Advocate Kranti LC, who represented the petitioner, pointed out that the Integrated Child Development Scheme has been framed pursuant to directions of the Supreme Court and aimed to provide nutritional food to rural and slum children between 0 and 6 years. He has submitted the communication of September 2017 was completely contrary to the objectives of the scheme.
The officials accepted this statements and noted that if the communication of September 2017 is implemented, Integrated Child Development Scheme and the National Food Security Act, 2013, becomes “practically impossible” to enact. The officials directed the State Government to make sure no children is deprived of nutritional supplements and meals being served at anganwadi centers due to no Aadhaar.
According to the notice passed, the Integrated Child Development Scheme commissioner was instructed not to fill any vacant posts in Anganwadi across the state, merge anganwadis that cater to fewer children, and make mandatory the linking of Aadhaar for children who avail benefits from the scheme.
The communication was issued pursuant to directions issued by the finance department.
The above directions would make children’s deprive from the benefits who do not have Aadhaar Card, said the division bench of justice Abhay Oka and justice Mahesh Sonak, adding that this would defeat the very object of the scheme.
Advocate Kranti LC, who represented the petitioner, pointed out that the Integrated Child Development Scheme has been framed pursuant to directions of the Supreme Court and aimed to provide nutritional food to rural and slum children between 0 and 6 years. He has submitted the communication of September 2017 was completely contrary to the objectives of the scheme.
The officials accepted this statements and noted that if the communication of September 2017 is implemented, Integrated Child Development Scheme and the National Food Security Act, 2013, becomes “practically impossible” to enact. The officials directed the State Government to make sure no children is deprived of nutritional supplements and meals being served at anganwadi centers due to no Aadhaar.
Comments
Post a Comment