Lack of Aadhaar casts shadow over education of tribal students in Kerala’s Edamalakkudy

Government LP School at Edamalakkudy in Munnar. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

With the new academic year just around the corner, many students from Edamalakkuda, Kerala’s first tribal panchayat, are at risk of being denied government benefits due to lack of Aadhaar numbers. According to officials, education authorities cannot register students on the government’s Samagra portal without these ID cards.

A total of 67 students are currently studying in the upper and lower primary classes at LP Government Tribal School in Edamalakkudy. “Only 28 of them have Aadhaar numbers. Last year, 16 students joined the school but only two had numbers. Without proper registration on the government portal, the education department cannot process their details. So far in the current academic year, only five students have joined and only three have Aadhaar numbers. We can enroll them without a card, but they will not get any benefits,” the source said.

No bank accounts

Students must have an account with a nationalized bank in order to receive government approved grants. “Only nine students in the school have bank accounts and only four of them are with nationalized banks. Absence of proper caste and birth certificates is also a major hurdle in securing proper child allowances,” the source added.

Local people have to travel nearly 40 kilometers to Munnar to get Aadhaar cards. “If the authorities conduct a special drive, it will be easy for the students to get the required certificates. Network connectivity is now available in the settlement to facilitate the process,” the source noted.

“Last year, 16 children joined Class I, but only three or four children attended classes regularly. The children come from remote settlements. Earlier, a mentor was appointed by the block resource center to accompany them to and from school. However, last year, the government abolished the position of mentor due to the financial crisis, which seriously affected student attendance,” the source added.

“In the academic year 2024-25, the required number of students enrolled in Class I at Edamalakkudy. However, as many of them did not have Aadhaar numbers, the teacher post sanctioned for Class I was cancelled,” the source said. (Teaching positions are created based on a set number of students.)

“Though the lower primary school has been upgraded to upper primary school as per the government order in 2023, the required number of teaching posts have still not been created. The order envisaged appointment through Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK), but financial constraints faced by SSK,” adversely affected the process. Since these children belong to the only required seat in Kerala panchayat, without further delay the government should create. Sindhu SS, Ex-State Program Officer, SSK.

Authorities version

Edamalakkudy panchayat president Binu M. said the local body was taking the issue seriously and noted that shortage of birth certificates remained a major hurdle. “We have launched a project called ‘Peruma’ to provide birth certificates and Aadhaar cards to children. We have already collected 13 applications and would ensure that all are provided within a month,” Mr. Binu said.

Devikulam Subcollector VM Arya said that the local government and other departments have put in a lot of effort to distribute the certificates. “However, we have received low response from the tribal community. The department will continue its follow-up efforts to ensure that everyone gets their certificates,” the official said.

Published – 22 May 2026 20:27 IST