Nutrition mission: 'Aadhaar must for kids to get food'

New Delhi: Aadhaar registration is required for children availing food under the centrally-sponsored National Nutrition Mission, the Lok Sabha was informed on Friday. Minister of State for Women and Child Development Virendra Kumar said the use of Aadhaar as identity document for delivery of services or benefits or subsidies simplifies the government delivery processes. He said it brings in transparency and efficiency, and enables beneficiaries to get their entitlements directly in a convenient and seamless manner.

"Aadhaar obviates the need for producing multiple documents to prove one's identity. Aadhaar would be unique identity of the beneficiaries," he said during Question Hour. The minister, however, said the beneficiaries' not possessing Aadhaar card would be assisted by the field functionaries to obtain Aadhaar.

Till such time, they would be provided the Anganwadi services on the basis of alternative identification document, he said. This would help in individual and Aadhaar-based tracking of children for nutritional outcomes.