Punjab becomes the first state to use DigiLocker to store Farmers’ J-Forms

Punjab GK (Patwari) Polity and Governance

13-May-21

Download PDF

Punjab has become the first state in the country to use a DigiLocker service to store farmers' vital J-Forms.
After this move, farmers will no longer need to hold or send paper copies of these forms.
Instead they will be able to share e-copies of the form in order to receive subsidies or loans.
J-Forms are used with respect to transaction with various departments and are available for a variety of purposes for instance income tax exemptions, fertiliser subsidies, agricultural loans, seeds, crop insurance and health insurance, among other purposes.
This is an initiative of the Punjab Mandi Board.
The J-Forms produced for the ongoing Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) have been placed in the Digilockers.
Farmers will not have to rely on any intermediaries for availing these vital documents.
Now, they will be able to download and use them.
The work of saving J-Forms online was started by the state government last year. (year 2020).
The J-Form has also been connected to the farmers' Aadhaar card numbers and mobile/telephone numbers.
Due to the registration of this vital information, the whole process of storing the forms became easy for the Punjab Mandi Board.
Farmers will now simply need to download the DigiLocker software on their phone and display the stored J-Form whenever and wherever they need to use it.
And since they would have a QR code, they can be instantly authenticated.
All other government departments have also been given orders to ensure that the e-J Forms are approved and accepted.
Punjab has also begun holding both driver's licenses and educational certificates in the DigiLocker.
According to the Governance Reforms department, putting smart ration cards in the DigiLocker is next on the agenda,
They are also looking at putting all land records in the state in the DigiLocker.
Concerns
The facility is open and, as per the officials, is easy to use but the question now is whether or not farmers will be able to download these forms using their smartphones or computers.
Not all farmers/beneficiaries are equipped with smartphones to avail this service.
Lack of technological knowhow is also a concern.
In case of technical glitches, the beneficiaries may have their work/benefits delayed.