The Maharashtra government on Friday released Adi Praman, an online application for validating tribal caste certificates which would make it a simple and transparent process for Scheduled Tribes to get bar-coded caste certificates.
The web-based application and its user manual were launched by Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Tribal Development Minister Vishnu Savra at a function held at the Raj Bhavan. Maharashtra has become the first state to issue caste validity certificates online.
Mr Rao said providing caste validity certificate to tribals online would make the entire process of securing the certificate transparent, fast and easy and would effectively curb the menace of bogus caste certificates.
Mr Fadnavis said the web-based application for caste validity certificates would help the government achieve the goal of inclusion as envisioned under the Digital India programme. He said the government is working towards the goal of digital administration, which would have minimum human intervention.
The validity certificate will be bar-coded with a unique identification number and enable authorities to directly verify the status of validity certificate using the unique barcode number.
The portal https://etribevalidity.mahaonline.gov.in/ will also show the real-time status of the applications through email and text messages.
The unique numbering format will make the identification of fake caste certificates easier.
Minister for Tribal Development Vishnu Savra said the availability of caste validity certificates online would especially help youths seeking employment and candidates filing nomination papers for elections.