Controversial school-canteen rule staying - Lodi mayor, Veneto follows suit

(ANSA) - Lodi, October 15 - Lodi Mayor Sara Casanova on Monday 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. "The regulation will certainly remain in force," Casanova told ANSA.
    "The law must always be valid for everyone". 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. 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.