https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Protecting Land Rights of STs with Blockchain Technology

Assistant Collector of Etapalli subdivison, Shubham Gupta, has started the use of blockchain technology for storing caste certificates. The use of this technology has curbed the racket of fake certificates in the area. Now a caste certificate can be easily verified by scanning a QR code on it.
Indian Masterminds Stories

The underdeveloped and Naxal-affected Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra is largely populated by tribal people. The state government has launched various initiatives here to empower the populace. To take undue advantage of the government-sponsored schemes, unscrupulous elements get fake ST certificates made in their names. In order to curb the fake ST certificate racket, the district administration of Gadricholi has started a blockchain system for storing caste/tribe certificates. People can get new certificates and old ones can be authenticated through this system only.

Assistant Collector of Etapalli, Shubham Gupta, a 2019-batch IAS officer, started this initiative in his sub-division. In the next two months, about 65 thousand certificates will be stored on blockchain. At the time of its launch, about two months ago, the project was working in beta version. But now, it is working in full version. The administration will home deliver the certificates to all applicants.

Indian Masterminds interacted with Mr. Gupta, who is also the Project Officer of ITDP, Gadchiroli, to get further details.

IAS officer Shubham Gupta

ADVANTAGES

The biggest advantage of this initiative is that the land rights of the tribals will be protected. Their caste certificates will be full proof, and no forgery or tampering will be possible with certificates from now on. Hence, only eligible beneficiaries will get the benefit of government schemes.

Mr. Gupta told Indian Masterminds, “If you see the land laws in India, there are very strict laws for the transfer of land of Schedule Tribe (ST). People who come in general category can easily transfer their land to anyone, but it is not so in the case of ST people. There are some special provisions in the case of ST category people and they require permission, either from the collector or some other concerned authority. This is so that their rights over the land can be protected.”

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde distributing Caste Certificates

He then cited an example from his time in Nashik, when there was a case of someone grabbing the land of about 20 to 30 people by claiming himself to be of ST category. The person had a fake ST certificate. “That’s why when I came here, I I felt that I should bring a system so that no such fraud takes place. So I brought in blockchain. 85 percent of the population in Etapalli division is ST. Therefore, caste certificate is more important than Aadhar card for the people here, because it is required in all government schemes.”

BLOCKCHAIN

Through the blockchain technology, all important data of caste certificates are encrypted and stored in the public blockchain. So the data is actually not getting stored, but the encrypted hash is getting stored on blockchain. After being stored on blockchain, it generates a QR code. This QR code is put on the caste certificate. So, for verification of the certificate, one just needs to scan the QR code to know about the certificate’s authenticity in 3 to 5 seconds.

IAS Officer and assistant Collector of Etapalli,Shubham Gupta (from left, first), IAS officer and district collector of Gadchiroli, Sanjay Meena (from left, second) with CM Eknath Shinde at a event

“Online certificate facility was already available in Maharashtra, but we just made it better and full proof. We added better technology. Our verification system is different from the state government’s system. Our verification portal is also differently hosted on the district website. We made an additional system for storing data on blockchain technology and we added some space on the caste certificate for putting QR code,” Mr. Gupta said.

CHALLENGES

The office further said that there were mainly two challenges in front of them when they set out to implement the blockchain technology. First, how to explain to the department employees about modern technology and make them use it. Second, to educate the common people about it, including about the QR code on the certificate and what it means. Training was imparted to the employees and to educate the masses, many informative posters were put up all around. “When people see the QR code on their certificate, they will figure out eventually and understand why it’s there,” said Mr. Gupta.

Caste certificate

ABOUT BLOCKCHAIN

Blockchain is a system with the help of which a decentralized ledger of any type of data can be created. Every person connected to this network will have this record of information. This bookkeeping or record occurs as a series of separate blocks of information. This is the reason, this technology is named as ‘blockchain’. This technique was introduced in 1991 by Stuart Haber and Scott Stornetta. For the first time, this technology was used in the transaction of the crypto currency bitcoin in 2009. This system can prove to be very beneficial to verify all types of certificates too.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Raj DGP
Rajasthan: New DGP Rajeev Sharma Aims to Make Rajasthan a Model for Policing in India – Know His Future Plans for Policing in State
Leopard Threat on Kanwar Yatra
UP: Leopard Threat Looms Over Kanwar Yatra in Bijnor; Administration Steps Up Vigil with Drones and Patrolling
Ladli Behna Yojana Housing
Ladli Behna Yojana: 1.30 Crore Urban Beneficiaries to Receive Houses Alongside Financial Aid, Announces MP CM Mohan Yadav
Mohan Yadav
Rs 8,682 MSP for Moong: CM Dr Mohan Yadav Requests 40% Procurement Amid Surge in Cultivation
Gwalior Chambal development pic
MP CM Mohan Yadav Flags Off Rs265 Cr Projects, Inaugurates ISBT & Sports Complex; Gwalior-Chambal Set to Become Powerhouse of Progress
Tribhuvan Sahkari University Anand
Tribhuvan Sahkari University Foundation Stone Laid by Amit Shah and Bhupendra Patel in Anand, Empower India’s 30 Crore Cooperative Workers
Mohan Yadav CM MP
MP Govt Committed to 27% OBC Reservation: CM Mohan Yadav Reaffirms Stand Based on Factual Data
cm mohan yadav
Cooperatives Empowering Youth, Driving Growth: MP CM Dr Mohan Yadav on International Cooperative Day
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-03 at 13.33
IRS Sanjay Bahadur: The Officer With a Pen That Bites | Video Interview
Inderjit Singh Air India
Is Air India Carrying The Burden of Split Before Privatisation?
Ex IRS C Rajendiran
Ex-IRS Officer C. Rajendiran Illuminates Thirukkural’s Timeless Wisdom in Exclusive Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IPS Deepak Meghani
Deepak Meghani, IPS: A Journey of Focus, Failure, and Quiet Discipline
A passionate writer, he has authored several books in Gujarati, ranging from exam strategy guides to...
Sanish Kumar Singh
“If you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way,” Sanish Kumar Singh AIR 8, UPSC IFS 2024 
The real interview, he says, was much more humane. “The board was conversational. The chairman opened...
Raju Wagh
When the Battlefield Became a Study Room and a Dream Took Flight
Amid IED blasts and anti-Maoist operations in Bastar, CRPF Commando Raju Wagh taught village kids, studied...
Social Media
PV Sindhu
PV Sindhu’s Visit to NADT Turns into a Wholesome Tribute to Legacy—and ‘Moolchandj
The Olympic champion shared nostalgic memories, met aspiring IRS officers, and sparked viral laughter...
Shailaja Chandra
“Nanis & Dadis Have a Brain”: Former IAS Officer Shailaja Chandra Weighs in on 1970s vs 2025 Life Debate - “This Generation Has It Better”
Responding to Viral Post on Middle-Class Struggles, Ex-Bureaucrat Offers Candid Reflection on Then and...
Tigress Arrowhead
The End of an Era: A Queen Falls - Ranthambore’s Iconic Tigress Arrowhead (T-84) Passes Away at 14, Hours After Daughter’s Relocation
Ranthambore mourns the loss of one of its fiercest and most beloved tigers, Arrowhead, the granddaughter...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Raj DGP
Rajasthan: New DGP Rajeev Sharma Aims to Make Rajasthan a Model for Policing in India – Know His Future Plans for Policing in State
Leopard Threat on Kanwar Yatra
UP: Leopard Threat Looms Over Kanwar Yatra in Bijnor; Administration Steps Up Vigil with Drones and Patrolling
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-03 at 13.33
Inderjit Singh Air India
Ex IRS C Rajendiran
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT