Overview

• Demonstrations on August 21–22 in Assam, Karnataka and Punjab, including “Black Day” actions, pressed for scrapping facial recognition and OTP-based checks tied to ration delivery.
• The Union-introduced process requires facial scans with Aadhaar-linked OTP or e-KYC before issuing take-home nutrition to pregnant and lactating women and children under ICDS.
• Unions report low phone access, shared or inactive numbers, poor connectivity and app failures that block authentication and lead to wrongful exclusions.
• Protesters raised privacy and cyber-fraud risks and cited Supreme Court directions that benefits must not be denied for lack of Aadhaar.
• Associations demanded withdrawal of the system, reinstatement of excluded beneficiaries and timely funding for cooked meals and staff dues, warning of indefinite protests later this year if ignored.