Blockchain-Based Caste Certification
One of the first blockchain-related projects to be formally recommended by a government body is the pilot project that issued 65,000 caste certificates to the tribal population of Etapalli, Gadchiroli. This project was featured by NITI Aayog, India’s top public policy think tank, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The district government of Gadchiroli has started a scheme to produce caste certificates that are cryptographically anchored on polygon POS blockchain, according to a statement made by Niti Aayog and UNDP in the Best Practises 2023 compendium. This makes it possible for anyone to instantaneously authenticate certificates using on-chain data that is uncensorable and openly auditable. The initiative is being tested in the Etapalli sub-division of the Gadchiroli district, primarily serving the 70% Scheduled Tribe population, which includes numerous Private vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs), including Madia and Gond.
According to NITI Aayog and UNDP, this project will avoid “malicious de-platforming of a person who legitimately belongs to a caste and is entitled to the government aid” and “dramatically reduce fraudulent benefit/incentive claims.”
(With inputs from Shikha Singh)
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