Lucknow, 23 August: The Centre has approved the UP government’s plan to issue family IDs to its inhabitants and use Aadhaar authentication for their details through the ministry of electronics and information technology (MEIT). With this approval, the state government expects to activate its site for family ID applications within the next two weeks.
The initiative was envisioned as a tool for identifying families as a unit for the purpose of executing the government’s ‘one job per family’ concept, as well as other programs such as pensions and housing benefits.
Confirming the development, planning department secretary Alok Kumar stated that the state has 15 crore Aadhaar-validated ration card holders who may be granted family ID cards right away.
He went on to say that ration cards cover around 60% of the state. “Under this initiative, each family will receive an ID. However, it is currently optional, and only individuals seeking benefits under any government plan will be required to enrol. In the original idea, we would collect information on households using ration card details, as well as Aadhaar card holders “Kumar stated. MEIT has said in its letter to the planning department that no one will be denied any service or benefit due to the failure of Aadhaar-based verification.
Allowing the optional use of Aadhaar authentication for the development of Family IDs under the Parivar Kalyan Yojana, the ministry has stipulated that Family ID, or e-KYC data, is used only for purposes and programmes that are in accordance with the requirements of the Aadhaar Act and have been declared. The planning department will need to seek informed consent from residents before utilising Aadhaar data to seed information from other departments.
Residents will need to be informed of the specific purpose for which their Aadhaar data are being requested, as well as how the information would be collected, maintained, and utilised.
To protect citizens’ interests, the ministry has also mandated that Aadhaar numbers will not be shown anywhere in the system, and only the last four digits of the Aadhaar number may be disclosed when appropriate.
The entire data or e-KYC information of residents must not be presented on the screen, just the relevant demographic details. The administration has already included a column in application forms for numerous government programmes that ask for either a ration card or a family ID. Those who hold a ration card will use it as their family ID.
Those who do not have a ration card will be able to apply for a family card through the website, which will be available early next month. Initially, a provisional ID will be produced, which will be valid until the applicant’s data are validated.
