Hyderabad: The Telangana govt has decided to create a state-wide electronic family register and enable citizens to obtain a family register certificate through the MeeSeva platform, easing access to govt services and reducing the need to produce multiple documents.Revenue secretary DS Lokesh Kumar, in GO No. 172 (issued on July 25), said the govt had examined the difficulties faced by citizens in producing an authenticated and reliable record of family composition while availing various govt services.“With a view to facilitating the delivery of citizen services, ensuring uniformity in the verification of family particulars, and providing a readily accessible record, the govt decided to issue family register certificates. Accordingly, a state-wide electronic register will be constituted, which will be called the ‘Telangana Family Register’. This will be maintained in electronic form,” the GO stated.The govt, however, clarified that the certificate would not confer or determine any right, title or interest in property, nor would it constitute proof of legal heirship or entitlement to govt benefits.States like Karnataka and Haryana are already issuing similar certificates. In Telangana, the family register will contain details such as the family identification number — linked to the ration card number — names of family members, their relationship with the head of the family, age, date of birth, gender, Aadhaar number and complete residential address.“The data population of the register shall be effected by electronically fetching the particulars from the food security card (ration cards) database maintained by the commissioner of civil supplies. The register, and any certificate issued therefrom, is a record of the composition of the family as reflected in the source database,” the GO added.Citizens can apply through MeeSeva centres, the online portal or the mobile application by furnishing the family’s ration card number. Only an adult family member whose name appears in the register will be eligible to apply.The certificate will be issued within two working days. The tahsildar concerned will verify the details with the food security card database and approve the application through a digital signature. District collectors have been directed to oversee implementation of the service across the state.Meanwhile, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi welcomed the move. “I hope this facility is used by the people (₹62 as service charge). I had made a representation along with @FaheemQureshinc. The certificate is one of the 12 acceptable documents under the Special Intensive Revision. It will benefit many poor and undocumented people,” he said on X platform.Govt advisor Mohammed Ali Shabbir said the initiative would benefit poor and economically weaker families by eliminating the need to submit multiple documents before different departments. He said the certificate would also help voters who receive notices from Election Commission officials as part of the SIR exercise.
