Jharkhand starvation death: UIDAI says Aadhaar not needed for ration under PDS

New Delhi: The Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Thursday said that nobody can be denied rations under Public Distribution System (PDS) for lack of Aadhaar card.

The development comes following the death of a Jharkhand girl who allegedly died of starvation after her mother was denied ration over Aadhaar linkage.

The body, authorised for issuing Aadhaar, further said that the claiming that the victim's family had Aadhaar number alloted to them.

Citing the incident, the UIDAI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ajay Bhushan Pandey on Wednesday tweeted, "It is not a case of denial of benefits because of Aadhaar." 

"The Aadhaar Act specifies that till Aadhaar number is prescribed, benefits should be given through alternative means of identification," he added.

11-year-old Santoshi Kumari reportedly starved for nearly eight days ahead of dying on September 28.

Earlier on Monday, the Jharkhand Food and Supply Minister Saryu Rai said, "Clear instructions were given that ration shouldn't be denied to those who haven't linked ration card with Aadhaar."