The recent concerns surrounding the privacy of Haryana’s Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) Scheme has caused a stir in the news. The scheme, though set up as voluntary, mandates linking it to benefit from various essential services offered by the government. This requirement has raised substantial apprehensions about the implications of the scheme on individual privacy.
Contradictory Position: Voluntary or Compulsory?
While enrolment under the PPP is voluntary, it is compulsory for citizens or families who wish to access services delivered by the Haryana government. In such instances, the PPP ID becomes mandatory, leaving minimal choice for the residents. This contradictory position raises questions about the voluntary nature of the scheme, ultimately posing a challenge to the residents who are left with no alternatives but to enroll.
Data Abuse: A Brewing Concern
In a country like India where privacy laws are still evolving, and the lack of clarity on data protection standard operating procedures, there looms a strong possibility of potential abuse of the data collected under the PPP. Besides, the extensive data sought goes well beyond what is required for the delivery of a particular service, raising critical concerns about the safety and misuse of the personal information provided by the residents.
Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) Scheme: A Background
The PPP scheme was officially launched in July 2019, aiming to accomplish the Haryana government’s vision for ‘paperless’ and ‘faceless’ delivery of schemes, services and benefits. The scheme assigns an 8-digit unique identification number, termed as Family ID, treating each family as a single unit. These family IDs are further linked to independent schemes like scholarships, subsidies, and pensions to ensure consistency and reliability in delivering key services to the residents.
Objective of PPP
The primary objective of the PPP is to create authentic, verified, and reliable data of all families in Haryana. The information collected aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the families, enabling the government to deliver bespoke services and benefits.
Merits of PPP
The PPP scheme transforms the family into a single unit, unlike the Aadhaar card system that focuses on individuals. It ensures smooth service delivery ranging from social security pensions, ration cards to birth, death, caste and income certificates. In addition to residents, the scheme also accommodates migrant workers who haven’t completed residency requirements, thereby making state benefits more accessible.
PPP vs Aadhaar: A Comparative Overview
Unlike Aadhaar that represents an individual as a unit, PPP highlights a family as a unit. This distinction makes PPP vital as most governmental schemes are structured around the family rather than the individual.
Looking Ahead: Strengthening PPP
For enhanced efficiency, the scheme may link PPP to property records in the government database of lands and properties. This would prevent fraudulent transactions and establish clear ownership. Further, the government must launch mass campaigns to raise awareness about the scheme and its benefits. Additionally, introducing stringent measures would ensure the security of data being collected, addressing concerns about the misuse of personal information.
