The Aadhaar card and bank account compulsion imposed by the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry is causing problems in the implementation of the ambitious National Scheme for Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE) in the State. With an aim to reduce dropout rates of the girl students, a Fixed Deposit (FD) of Rs3,000 per girl belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) is made when she takes admission in class IX. The FD is made in such a way that it matures when the girl pass out from class X. Now, the Union Government has asked the State Governments to include the girls of Below Poverty line (BPl) category also under the scheme.
One of a teacher posted in a Girls Inter College (GIC) in remote Kalsi block of Dehradun district said that the NSIGSE is a very good measure to attract the girls and their parents for continuing their education. “ The problem is that the Aadhar number and account number of the girl is needed which causes hindrance as many parents do not open account of their daughters and do not have Aadhar themselves. The government should give a waiver at least in the rural areas or in remote locations so that the purpose of the scheme is utilized to the full,’’ he said.
The Deputy Director, secondary education J P Yadav accepted that the problem of the account and Aadhar number arises while implementing the scheme. He disclosed that 11564 girls have been earmarked in the state and they would be benefitted under the scheme.