LS clears bill on births, deaths registration despite concerns

NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill that seeks to build a comprehensive database of births and deaths and makes registration of birth certificate mandatory for voting, education, jobs and welfare

- Aman Singh

The bill was passed in the Lower House by a voice vote with Opposition leaders raising concerns about the provisions that make linking Aadhaar with birth certificate mandatory, and denying people education and welfare because their births were not duly registered. But the government brushed aside the concerns.

"There is no doubt in this bill. We do not want any further delay in our services to the public... In order to prepare a digital database, we have brought this... We also put the draft for public opinion and we have incorporated the suggestions," Union minister of state for home Nityanand Rai said. The minister also said that the law regulating births and deaths had not been amended since 1969 and with technological advancements, there was a need to make the law more citizen friendly.