Shillong, March 20 : The Meghalaya government has temporarily suspended the mandatory immunization requirement for the issuance of birth certificates for a period of two months. This decision aims to expedite Aadhaar enrollment for newborns and ensure timely access to benefits under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme.
The government acknowledged that the previous requirement of immunization as a precondition for birth certificates had led to significant delays in birth registrations. These delays, in turn, hindered parents from obtaining Aadhaar for their newborns in a timely manner, impacting their eligibility for crucial government welfare schemes, particularly ICDS.
The Aadhaar card is essential for accessing ICDS benefits, including supplementary nutrition, healthcare, and early childhood education. Delays in its issuance were depriving eligible children of their rightful entitlements.
The government reiterated its commitment to ensuring universal Aadhaar coverage for all children to facilitate seamless access to welfare schemes and social security benefits. The temporary suspension of the immunization requirement aims to remove an administrative bottleneck that was impeding this objective.
Instructions for Compliance and Future Review
- District Registrars of Births and Deaths are instructed to issue birth certificates regardless of the child’s immunization status.
- Immunization status will be recorded separately and pursued through routine immunization drives.
- Health and ICDS officials will continue immunization awareness campaigns.
The policy will be reviewed after two months to assess its impact and determine if further modifications are necessary.
