MANU/HRDT/0007/2017

Ministry : Ministry of Human Resource Development

Department/Board : School Education and Literacy

Notification No. : SO689(E)

Date of Notification : 02.03.2017

Date of Publication : 02.03.2017

Subject: Education

Industry: Education

Mandatory requirement for individuals availing facilities under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

S.O.689(E).--Whereas, the use of Aadhaar as an identifier 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 in a convenient and seamless manner and Aadhaar obviates the need for producing multiple documents to prove one's identity;

And whereas, the Ministry of Human Resource Development in the Government of India (hereinafter referred to as MHRD) is administering Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, for universalising elementary education, across the country in partnership with the State Governments and Union territory Administrations, so as to achieve the goals such as universal access and retention, bridging of gender and social category gaps in education and enhancement of learning levels of children;

And whereas, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan provides for a variety of interventions, including opening of new schools, construction of schools and additional classrooms, toilets and drinking water, provisioning for teachers, periodic teacher training and academic resource support, textbooks, uniforms and support for learning achievement;

And whereas, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Scheme framed in accordance with the norms and standards and free entitlements as mandated under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, which provides a legal framework that entitles all children in the age group of 6 to 14 years free and compulsory elementary education till its completion;

And whereas, section 7 of the RTE Act, 2009 provides that the Central Government and the State Governments shall have concurrent responsibility for providing funds for carrying out the provisions of the RTE Act and the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has been designated as the vehicle for implementation of RTE Act, 2009 for which central share is released to States and Union territories for transferring the same together with the matching state share as per the applicable fund sharing pattern between Centre and State or Union territory to the State Implementation Societies (SISs), for undertaking the approved activities under the Scheme;

And whereas, implementation of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan involves recurring expenditure incurred from the Consolidated Fund of India;

Now, therefore, in pursuance of the provisions of section 7 of the Aadhaar (Targetted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (18 of 2016) (herein after referred to the said Act), the Central Government hereby notifies the following, namely:-

(i) Children between the age of 6 to 14 years, eligible to receive benefits and entitlements under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, would be required to furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar number or undergo Aadhaar authentication.

(ii) Children between the age of 6 to 14 years, eligible to receive benefits and entitlements under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, who do not possess an Aadhaar Number or, are not yet enrolled for Aadhaar, are requested to apply for Aadhaar enrolment as by 30th June, 2017, provided they are entitled to obtain Aadhaar number as per section 3 of the Aadhaar Act. Such children may visit any Aadhaar enrolment centre (list available at www.uidai.gov.in) to get enrolled for Aadhaar.

(iii) In case there is no enrolment facility in the neighbourhood areas to a school or a child is not able to enrol for Aadhaar for any other reason, the School Education Department of the State or Union Territory shall allocate a unique number to such child which will be used to separately identify him or her and benefits under this scheme shall be given to such child also.

(iv) As per regulation 12 of the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016, the local authorities in the State Governments or Union Territory Administrations have become or are in the process of becoming UIDAI Registrars for Aadhaar enrolment and are organising special Aadhaar enrolment camps at convenient locations for providing enrolment facilities in consultation with UIDAI. Children desirous for availing any of the benefits and services offered under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, who do not possess Aadhaar number or have not yet enrolled for Aadhaar, may also visit such special Aadhaar enrolment camps for Aadhaar enrolment or any of the Aadhaar enrolment centres in the vicinity with existing registrars of UIDAI. The Aadhaar enrolment process as prescribed in section 5 of the Aadhaar Act shall be followed.

(v) In case of children with special needs who are unable to provide fingerprints, owing to reasons such as injury, deformities, amputation of the fingers or hands or any other relevant reason, only Iris scans will be collected. However, for such children with special needs who are unable to provide any biometric information contemplated by the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016, the procedure specified by the UIDAI in terms of regulation 6(2) of the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016, shall be followed to carry out enrolment for Aadhaar.

(vi) In case authentication using Aadhaar or submission of proof of possession of Aadhaar is not possible, eligible children shall continue to avail the benefits under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan till they become time or age barred, if the following documents are produced, namely:-

(a)      (i) If they have enrolled for Aadhaar then Aadhaar Enrolment ID slip; or

(ii) a copy of the request made for Aadhaar enrolment, as specified in Paragraph 6 of this notification;

(iii) Unique number issued by School Education Department; and

(b) An undertaking by the parent or legal guardian that the child is residing with him or her and that he or she is not availing same services or benefits for the child from any other Scheme or School:

Provided that the above documents shall be checked by an officer designated by the department in-charge of implementation of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in the State Government or Union territory Administration.

2. In order to provide convenient and hassle free benefits under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan to eligible children between 6 to 14 years, the State Governments, and Union territory Administrations shall make wide publicity through the offices of the State Project Officers, District Education Offices, Block Resources Centres, Cluster Resource Centres, etc. about the need for enrolment for Aadhaar and details of facilities made for Aadhaar enrolment.

3. In case, eligible children under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan are not able to enrol due to non-availability of enrolment centre in the Block or Tehsil or Taluka, the State Projects Officers are required to create enrolment facilities at convenient location and children through their parents or guardians may be requested to register their request for enrolment by giving their names with other details, such as same, address, mobile number with the school.

4. This notification shall come into effect from the date of its publication in all States and Union Territories except the States of Assam, Meghalaya and Jammu and Kashmir.

[No. 3-24/2016-EE.14]
RINA RAY, Addl. Secy.