HYDERABAD: The alleged mandatory linking of Aadhaar cards with educational services has sparked a crisis in the state's primary education system, forcing many students to drop out or continue without essential benefits like free textbooks, uniforms, and midday meals.

The situation has reportedly worsened with the introduction of the Permanent Education Number (PEN), which, despite being officially listed as optional, has effectively become a requirement for receiving examination hall tickets.
Speaking to TOI, Ganji Venugopal, state convenor of the child rights protection forum, highlighted the issue, saying, "In several schools, children are still being denied admission because they lack Aadhaar. I recently met a headmaster and asked them to admit a migrant child, but we were outright rejected due to the absence of Aadhaar identification."
Excluded from benefits
Venugopal was referring to the case of G Tirupatamma, who moved from rural Khammam to Hyderabad with her two children to escape an abusive family situation.
With no documents, no money, and no mobile phone, she relocated to Addagutta in Secunderabad and attempted to enroll her child in nearby govt school. "But we were simply rejected for admission," said Tirupatamma, speaking through her neighbor's phone.
Child activist Erravalli Suvarna shared another case: "Naresh Kumar, a bright Class 7 student from a govt school in Bandlaguda, was forced to drop out because he could not obtain his Aadhaar ID in time, nor secure a PEN. Despite attending school, he was effectively excluded from all benefits."
Suvarna added, "In some cases, students are admitted to school but neither their attendance is recorded nor are they given new textbooks or uniforms."
Venugopal criticized the system, arguing that it contradicts the Right to Education Act. "The Act clearly states that no child should be denied admission or benefits due to lack of documentation. What we're witnessing is the systematic exclusion of the most vulnerable children—those who need these benefits most."
Activist Sangeetha also weighed in, saying, "Most of these children are from migrant families, and by making Aadhaar mandatory, we are punishing them for their circumstances. I have documented over 50 cases of students facing difficulties due to the lack of Aadhaar."
Official refutes claims
In response, a senior official from the school education department refuted the claims. "Every Mandal Resource Centre has Aadhaar kits to assist those without Aadhaar. If a child doesn't have a birth certificate to get an Aadhaar, we simply enter ‘9' twelve times in Aadhaar field to proceed," he said. However, it remains unclear how this affects issuance of PEN and hall tickets.