Karnataka High Court Seeks State's Stand On Anganwadi Workers' Plea Against Mandatory Facial Recognition To Avail Take-Home Ration Scheme

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday (April 23) sought State Government's stand on a plea by Anganwadi Workers' Union challenging mandatory facial recognition system for the distribution of Take-Home Ration under the Poshan 2.0 scheme.

The plea has been filed by Karnataka Rajya Anganawadi Noukarara Sangha [affiliated to All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers & Helpers], a union comprising Anganwadi workers and helpers in Karnataka.

During the hearing, the counsel appearing for the Anganwadi Workers Union submitted before Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum that physical verification ought to be allowed for the THR scheme to continue functioning effectively. The Facial Recognition System mandate, due to low connectivity in rural areas, renders the scheme almost 90 per cent ineffective, the counsel said.

Meanwhile the counsel for the Union of India also apprised the court about a dire situation wherein Anganwadi Workers are being issued show cause notices for failing to comply with mandatory Facial Recognition System (FRS) requirements for distribution of Take-Home Ration (THR).

The court asked the Additional Advocate General for the State to enquire into the matter and report back to the court.

The petition seeks the quashing of the directive and letters issued by the Department of Women & Child Development, making the Facial Recognition System (FRS) mandatory for the distribution of Take-Home Ration, effective July 1, 2025, to ensure that the benefit is given to the intended beneficiary registered in the Poshan Tracker App. The 2025 December directive made FRS mandatory for registration of beneficiaries, THR, and monitoring attendance of children in Anganwadi Centres (AWS).

The Workers Union, on the other hand, presses for distribution of THR through non-biometric means, especially in rural areas with deplorable digital access. The Anganwadi workers also allege in the petition that the strict mandate of FRS promotes the collection of biometric data and other sensitive information, which is in violation of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.

According to the Union Ministry of Women & Child Development (UoI), Poshan 2.0 seeks to address the challenges of malnutrition in children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers through a strategic shift in nutrition content and delivery.

The matter is listed on June 1.

Case Title: Karnataka Rajya Anganawadi Noukarara Sangh v. Union of India & Ors

Case No: WP 38603/2025