Teachers, students must get Aadhar cards by June 2013

Students, teachers and the non- teaching staff should register for their Aadhar cards and collect them by June 2013.

Those schools which have students or teachers who do not have the card by June 2013, will not receive government aid from 2013-14. The move was prompted by the bogus students’ scam unearthed earlier this year and the education department will use UID cards to crack down on bogus students.

Over 1.80 crore students studying in 1 lakh primary and secondary schools in the state, including 32,573 private schools, will be given Aadhar cards which contains a Unique Identification Number (UID).

This was the need of the hour as a statewide survey of schools in October 2011 revealed that many schools were indulging in malpractices by showing bogus students on their rolls.

To ensure that all of them get their cards by June 2013, the state has decided to set up a committee, according to the latest state government resolution (GR) issued on September 27.

From next year, a new campaign will be launched at the district level to issue Aadhar cards. Education officers from every division will have to make at least four machines available for the speedy enrolment of names, states the GR.

Education officers in charge of primary and secondary schools will have to work with district-level officials to make a district-wise timetable for issuing UID cards to schools. And, they will have to submit a report to the education director fortnightly on the status of the schools.

Efficient officials would be awarded to encourage them. Another GR will soon be issued detailing the awards.

“It’s a good idea to use the Aadhar card to keep a check on bogus students. But the government cannot pull up schools up for not receiving the cards on time. In many cases, the delay is always on the part of the government,’’ said Ophelia Barreto, principal of Podar International School, SSC section.