Context: Recently, there has been a privacy concern with respect to Haryana's Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) Scheme.

• Although enrollment under the scheme is voluntary, but the precondition of linking it to get the benefit of many essential services has raised serious concerns about the scheme.

Current Issue

• Contradictory Position: Although the enrollment under the PPP is voluntary, but in case a citizen or a family wishes to apply for a service delivered by the Haryana government, the PPP ID would be required, which leaves very little choice before the residents.
• Data Abuse: In the absence of privacy laws in India, or any indication of data protection Standard Operating Procedures being followed for this exercise, there is strong possibility of potential abuse of the data collected under the PPP.
• Moreover, a lot of data which is being sought is well above and beyond what is required for the delivery of a particular service.

Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) Scheme

• It is an 8-digit Unique Identity Card number meant for each family to enable smooth and automatic delivery of several citizen-centric services.
• The government will establish the scheme-wise eligibility of a particular family using this 8-digit code according to the information available in the PPP of the family.
• The benefits, according to the schemes, shall automatically be transferred to the family using the same code.
• PPP will ensure that not a single beneficiary is left out from the government benefits that they are entitled to.
• The primary objective of Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) is to create authentic, verified and reliable data of all families in Haryana.

Benefits of PPP

• Family as a Unit: Union government’s Aadhaar card contains individual’s details and does not cater to the entire family as a unit.
• Although the ration card system is there, it is not updated and does not contain adequate family records.
• Smooth Service Delivery: Government services and schemes such as social security pensions, ration cards and birth, death, caste and income certificates etc. are being delivered by various departments of the Haryana government through PPP.
• Beneficial for Migrant Workers: Registration IDs are provided to those who live in Haryana but have not completed residency requirements.
• This enables the State government to provide benefits such as rations from fair price shops, benefits of labour schemes, street vendors’ support schemes, etc.

How is PPP different from the Aadhaar card?

• The PPP, mathematically, is an integral number of Aadhaar.
• While Aadhaar represents an individual as a unit, a PPP represents a family as a unit. Most of our government schemes are structured around the family.
• It is not structured around an individual.
• For example, ration eligibility is there for the family but the family can split it into various members as long as they are above 18 years and say they are separating entitlements for all individuals.

The logic behind

• Haryana officials said although there is a union government’s Aadhaar card, it contains individual’s details and does not cater to the entire family as a unit.
• In certain circumstances, it may not be possible for a state government to keep track of all the families residing in the state.
• Although the ration card system is there, it is not updated and does not contain adequate family records.
• With the PPP, it will be easier for the state government to maintain a complete database of all the state dwellers.

How would it work?

• To begin with, the government has already linked PPP with three social security schemes – old age Samman allowance, divyang pension, and the widow and destitute women pension scheme.
• For instance, when a family member turns 60, they will automatically get a message through the software and will automatically start getting benefits of the old-age pension if they meet the required criteria.
• Similarly, the teenagers will get messages on turning 18 years old and shall become eligible for various government schemes that will be notified to them through the software.

Road Ahead

• The PPP may also be linked to property records in the government database of lands and properties to prevent fraudulent transactions and clarify ownership.
• Besides, the government should start a mass campaign to make people aware about the schemes and its benefits.
• Government should also introduce measures to strengthen the security of data being collected under the Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) scheme.