The state has sought data from the Income Tax department as well as vehicle data from Vahan, which will be uploaded once received. On a later stage, health record will also be linked to the MahaID (Archive)
The Maharashtra government is mulling over a proposal from its Information and Technology department to monetise non-personal data from the pool of government beneficiaries that will be available on its digital platform “Samanvay”, which the government is set to unveil on October 2.
A compilation of each and every beneficiary of government schemes made available on Samanvay portal is christened as Golden Data and the project will allow beneficiaries to access their information through a unique MahaID linked to their respective Aadhaar number.
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“At present, we are test-running the portal. One of the proposals, once the portal starts running smoothly, is to monetise the data with private companies, start-ups and financial institutions. This is not an isolated idea but is in line with the central government policy. All the privacy related issues have already been addressed at the central level,” said a senior official from the Information and Technology department.
The official said that the shared data will be anonymous and no personal information will be shared. “But this will effectively help private companies who conduct their market research before the launch of the product,” the officer said, adding that a final decision is yet to be taken.
The state government’s Golden Data platform will have economic, social and geographical details of almost every citizen of the state. “The aim is to implement welfare schemes by weeding out ineligible beneficiaries. The data available with various government departments has been consolidated,” the official added. He mentioned that the data will remove duplications, inconsistencies from the existing system.
The information will be linked to Aadhaar card number of an individual. Once the number is typed, person’s name, age, gender, religion, caste, annual income range (not exact income), education, vehicles owned, beneficiaries of government scheme, children if any, will be available. The state has sought data from the Income Tax department as well as vehicle data from Vahan, which will be uploaded once received. On a later stage, health record will also be linked to the MahaID.
The state government implements more than 50 welfare schemes, including centre’s schemes, the latest being Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme under which Rs 1,500 per month is given to women in 18-65 age group. Based on the Golden Data, almost 26 lakh ineligible women beneficiaries have been found. The woman and child welfare department has undertook physical verification of these beneficiaries.
“We will handover the data to the department concerned when a particular scheme is to be implemented. The data pool is meant to be for the smooth implementation of welfare schemes of the state government,” the official added.
Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.
Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands').
Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:
State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).
Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).
Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.
Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness
Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.
Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.
Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
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