Centre using technology to exclude vulnerable sections: Congress on face authentication for anganwadi beneficiaries

Attacking the Narendra Modi government over the Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry’s order that made face recognition authentication mandatory for anganwadi beneficiaries, the Congress on Monday (June 23, 2025) alleged that it is systematically using technology to exclude the most vulnerable sections of society from social welfare entitlements.

Digital India must enable, not disempower, and it must not remain a “Preach Inclusion Practice Exclusion (PIPE) dream, the party added.

The Ministry had directed all States and Union Territories (UTs) to implement a mandatory face recognition system for take-home ration distribution and child attendance monitoring at anganwadi centres.

According to a letter issued by the Ministry last month, the face recognition feature will now be accessible within the beneficiary profiles on the Poshan tracker application. Beneficiaries will also have the option to self-register using the citizen module of the tracker for e-KYC and photo capture.

‘New hurdle’

“First, Aadhaar was weaponised to block crores of workers from MGNREGA. Acid attack survivors had to battle in court just to enrol in Aadhaar. Adivasis across the country still lose rations to tech glitches. Now, pregnant women face a new hurdle: facial recognition technology (FRT) for basic and legal entitlements under the NFSA![National Food Security Act]!” Congress Communications chief Jairam Ramesh said.

All over the world, evidence has emerged that FRT discriminates against class and colour of the skin, Mr. Ramesh added.