TNN | May 13, 2015, 11.13AM IST
RAJKOT: Now, every orphan child in Rajkot will have an identity. The state's social defence department has issued Aadhaar cards to all children under care of various orphanages or children's homes in the district. Aadhaar card is an important document to avail benefits under government schemes.
"There are 553 children in 10 different children homes and orphanages in Rajkot district. Of these, Aadhaar cards have been issued to 534 children, all of them minors," said Kanaksinh Zala, social defence officer, Rajkot.
"Most of the children in the children's homes are orphans and have no permanent address or identity. So, once they turn adult and go out into the world, these cards will be of great use. It will help them at every step of their life," he added.
Zala further said that they also plan to open bank accounts under the Prime Minister's Jan Dhan schemes for these children once they are 18 years old.
Currently, address of the children's homes or orphanage is being given as official residence of these children for Aadhaar cards.
"Earlier, once these children moved out of these homes they found it very difficult to provide basic identity details and address for correspondence. The Aadhaar cards will resolve this issue to a certain extent," said an official.