Digitisation of Vital Records in Rural Vidarbha: Progress and Challenges

thenewsdirt
May 30
5 min read

The process of registering births and deaths in Vidarbha’s rural districts is undergoing a significant shift towards digitisation, driven by national and state-level policies.

Maharashtra’s Aaple Sarkar Portal has introduced online services for obtaining birth and death certificates, but the extent of implementation in rural areas remains uneven.

This article examines the state of digitisation, the challenges faced by local bodies, and the barriers encountered by citizens in Vidarbha’s rural regions.

State of Digitisation in Vidarbha

Maharashtra has embraced digital tools to streamline civil registration, with the Aaple Sarkar Portal serving as the primary platform for online applications.

In Vidarbha’s Amravati district, residents can apply for birth and death certificates through this portal or visit AAPALE SARKAR Seva Kendra (ASSK) and Taluka Setu Centres for manual certificates.

The portal allows for certificate issuance within 5-7 days in urban areas, though processing times in rural Vidarbha may be longer due to logistical constraints. In Kamptee, a cantonment board in Vidarbha, a digital interface enables residents to search and download certificates with QR code verification for authenticity, indicating progress in semi-urban areas.

The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023, has accelerated these efforts by mandating digital birth certificates as the sole proof of age and birthplace for purposes such as voting, education, and government employment.

The act also permits registration after 30 days but within one year with fees and consent, and beyond one year with a District Magistrate’s order. Additionally, it links Aadhaar numbers to birth certificates to enhance data integration, though this has raised privacy concerns among some citizens.

In rural Vidarbha, local bodies like gram panchayats and taluka offices are tasked with implementing these changes, but the reliance on manual service centres suggests that full digitisation of records is not yet widespread.

Data specific to Vidarbha’s rural districts is limited, making it difficult to assess the exact progress of digitisation. The existence of hybrid systems, where digital applications coexist with paper-based processes, points to a transitional phase.

While Amravati’s online services are accessible, many rural residents still depend on physical visits to service centres, indicating that legacy records may not be fully digitised.

Kamptee’s advanced system, with its searchable database and QR code verification, suggests that urban and semi-urban areas in Vidarbha are ahead of their rural counterparts in adopting digital solutions.

Challenges in Digitising Records

Local bodies in Vidarbha’s rural districts face several hurdles in digitising birth and death records. A significant issue is the low rate of registration, particularly for births.

According to the 2013-14 Rapid Survey on Children, only 47.6% of rural children under five in India have registered births, and just 9.6% possess birth certificates.

These figures, while not specific to Vidarbha, likely reflect similar trends in the region, where awareness and access to registration services are limited. The low baseline of registered records reduces the pool available for digitisation, complicating efforts to create a comprehensive digital database.

Many local institutions, such as schools and gram panchayats, continue to rely on paper-based systems for record-keeping. This dependence on manual processes slows the digitisation of existing records, as data must be manually entered into digital systems.

The task is particularly daunting in rural areas, where administrative resources are often stretched thin. The lack of coordination between local bodies and state-level systems further complicates the process, as records may not be consistently uploaded to platforms like Aaple Sarkar.

Digital infrastructure poses another challenge. Approximately 80% of India’s rural population lacks access to smartphones or struggles with digital literacy, a trend likely mirrored in

Vidarbha’s villages. Without reliable internet or devices, local officials and citizens struggle to engage with online platforms.

Even when internet access is available, navigating digital systems requires technical skills that many rural residents and officials may not possess. This gap in digital literacy hinders both the submission of new registrations and the digitisation of older records.

Administrative inefficiencies also play a role. In other parts of India, such as Delhi, citizens have reported delays of over a month and instances of corruption, such as demands for bribes, when obtaining certificates.

While specific evidence from Vidarbha is scarce, similar issues may exist in rural districts, where administrative capacity is limited. These inefficiencies can delay the issuance of digital certificates and discourage residents from engaging with the registration process.

Barriers for Rural Citizens

Citizens in Vidarbha’s rural districts encounter significant obstacles when attempting to register births and deaths or obtain certificates. Many residents, particularly in remote villages, lack awareness about the importance of civil registration or the availability of digital platforms like Aaple Sarkar. This is especially true for marginalised communities with limited education, who may not understand the legal or practical significance of registering vital events.

Access to registration services is another major barrier. Rural areas often lack reliable internet connectivity, making it difficult for residents to use online portals.

Additionally, ASSK and Taluka Setu Centres may be located far from remote villages, requiring residents to travel long distances.

This adds time and financial burdens, particularly for low-income families in Vidarbha, a region known for agrarian distress. The cost of travel, combined with potential fees for delayed registrations, can deter families from completing the process.

Documentation requirements further complicate matters. Registering a birth or death often requires identity or address proofs, such as Aadhaar cards or ration cards, which some residents, particularly from underserved communities, may not have.

For registrations beyond 21 days, additional permissions and fees are required, and after one year, a District Magistrate’s order is necessary.

These requirements create significant hurdles for families who may not have the resources or knowledge to navigate the system. Women, who often handle family documentation, may face additional challenges due to gender norms or limited mobility in rural Vidarbha.

Economic and social factors exacerbate these barriers.

Poverty, prevalent in many of Vidarbha’s rural districts, shifts family priorities away from registration towards immediate survival needs. Social exclusion, particularly for tribal and lower-caste communities, can further limit access to services, as these groups may face discrimination or lack the necessary documentation to complete registrations.

The combination of these factors results in significant gaps in registration coverage, particularly for births.

The journey towards universal civil registration in Vidarbha’s rural districts reflects a broader shift in India’s approach to governance and data management.

As local bodies navigate the complexities of digitisation, the experiences of rural residents highlight the need for systems that are both accessible and inclusive.

The ongoing efforts to bridge digital and administrative gaps will shape the future of vital record-keeping in the region, influencing how communities engage with essential services.