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In an effort to digitalise the state’s population database, the Haryana Government launched the Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) program, which successfully validated birth dates, caste, income, and even marital status for around 2.85 crore people. Sh. V Umashankar, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Haryana Citizen Resources Information Department (CRID), in an exclusive interview with Priya Yadav, Associate Editor, Elets News Network (ENN), discussed the transforming digital landscape of Haryana.

Sh. V Umashankar, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Haryana Citizen Resources Information Department (CRID)

Your team has led much of the digital transformation in Haryana under the guidance of the previous Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, who was known for being tech-savvy. Could you walk us through some key changes, like the online transfer policy for employees?

The online transfer policy for employees was one of the first digital transformations we initiated. It was introduced around the Financial Year (FY) 2017-18 and rolled out across departments with more than 80 employees. The system works on the basis of defined rules and employee preferences for their postings.

The next major transition was in the agricultural sector. We developed a digital farm registration and procurement platform, including direct benefit transfers (DBT) to farmers. We began this in FY 2018-19, but it was fully implemented during the COVID-19 period. Now, 65 to 67 lakh acres of land is registered, and we’ve managed payments totalling about ₹1.3 lakh crore over the past five years.

The entire system, from development to management, was in-house, without external vendors. Farmers register their land before every crop season. A verification process that includes satellite imagery ensures the correct crop is registered.

Considering the diverse backgrounds of farmers, particularly in terms of education levels and familiarity with technology, how did you address any initial resistance or hesitancy towards adopting this digital platform? What strategies or incentives did you implement to ease their transition into this digital process?

With any new system, there is a certain level of initial hesitation. The same was the case here in 2019. When we first asked farmers to register, we only covered about 20-25 lakh acres of land. To address this, we made a policy decision: for crops like barley and mustard, which are not usually procured under Minimum Support Price (MSP), we proposed that procurement would only happen if the farmers registered on the platform. That encouraged the early adopters.

Then, the lockdown was announced during the procurement season. With social distancing requirements, the digital platform allowed us to schedule farmers’ visits to the ‘Mandis’, ensuring the presence of only a limited number of farmers at any given time. COVID-19 was a key catalyst in getting farmers onto the online platform.

Can you elaborate on how the payment process was managed in this new system? Specifically, how did the shift from the traditional payment model to the direct payment system work?

Initially, payments were made to agents, who then paid the farmers, but in 2021, we switched to a direct payment procedure under which money was directly transferred to the farmers’ accounts. This change was received really well, and most farmers are now satisfied with the system. It took the state government nearly two to three years to stabilise the process.

Beyond the agricultural reforms, what other significant digital initiatives has the state government rolled out across different sectors? Can you highlight specific programs or platforms that have had a transformative impact?

In 2017, we launched a unified platform for social welfare schemes where people could apply for benefits. Another major initiative is the Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) program, which has become fairly stable after three to four years of implementation. PPP is a complex initiative, that verify a large population’s data. We’ve validated birth dates, caste, income, and even marital status for around 2.85 crore people. Haryana residents can now print their certificates online without visiting any office. It’s a complex process, but now most of the groundwork is complete, and we are seeing the benefits in terms of data use across departments.

Has the digitisation effort extended its impact to other sectors, such as education? Could you elaborate on the specific digital initiatives introduced in the education sector, particularly how technology is being leveraged to enhance student learning outcomes?

In 2023, our initiative involved distributing tablets equipped with digital content and assessments to students in grades 9 to 12. This initiative aimed to enhance the learning experience by integrating technology into education, providing students with easy access to a wide range of digital resources and interactive assessments.

The rollout of this program has encountered some challenges, primarily related to managing the devices—such as ensuring they are properly maintained, secured, and used effectively by students. Despite these issues, the overall outcome has been positive. The integration of tablets has largely achieved its goals, and we’ve received encouraging feedback from both students and educators, indicating that the digital tools are contributing to a more engaging and efficient learning environment. Therefore, our efforts have set a benchmark in this field, demonstrating leadership in the adoption of educational technology.

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