(ANSA) - Milan, October 22 - The mayor of Lodi near Milan
where migrant children were effectively excluded from school
meals because of stringent income documentation norms "only
applied the law", Education Minister Marco Bussetti said Monday.
"I think the mayor wants to get down to the needs of people
but also ensure norms," he said, accusing the centre left of
"exploiting" the case to score political points.
Lodi Mayor Sara Casanova, of the anti-migrant League party,
has stood by controversial new regulations in the northern city
that have seen the children of many migrants unable to have
access to school canteens and school bus services.
Bussetti is an independent seen as close to the League.
The case has spurred a solidarity drive with money coming in
from pro-migrant groups around Italy to help the children access
meals.
The regulation demands that migrant parents must submit
documentation from their countries of origin about their wealth
and income, in addition to certification from the Italian
authorities, as part of means-testing for these services.
The administration has come under fire as the move has
reportedly led to around 200 migrant children being denied
admission to school canteens.
"I'm sorry that not everyone agrees with the principle of
fairness that is at the basis of this resolution, which aims to
put Italians and foreigners in the same condition at the
starting point to show their income and the assets they own,"
Casanova said.
The mayor stressed that the city administration has pledged
to find solutions for families unable to provide the
documentation requested from their homelands.
Following protests against the Lodi town council decision
that had in practice made about 200 migrant children ineligible
for discounted school lunches, the local administration on
Friday brought in new guidelines easing requirements.
The regulations do not allow for self-certification. It is
extremely difficult for many foreign parents to get documents
showing that they do not hold property in their countries of
origin.
Self-certification will now be possible if accompanied by a
statement from the migrants' country of origin stating the
impossibility for that country to issue the necessary
certification or that certification for real estate holdings is
limiting only to part of the national territory.
Similarly, a new rule in Veneto requires that migrant
families must present certification about their assets in their
countries of origin, in addition to Italy's ISEE
income-and-wealth certification, to have access to a couple to
spend on school books.
The rule is cited on the instructions section of the region's
website.
The Veneto branch of local-authorities association ANCI added
that the certification demands regarded all economic benefits,
not just those for school books.
Lodi mayor only applied law - Bussetti
Kids' exclusion from school meals spurred protests