Brief Background

Kutumba is a centralized data repository of families in Karnataka consisting of the individual and family attributes. The Public Distribution System (PDS) data has been used as base and other department databases have been integrated with it. As on date more than 30 IT systems of the Government are electronically integrated with Kutumba. Kutumba system has been designed to ensure that data is always up to date and in sync with the source system. This has been achieved through the process of reverse integration. Kutumba system is also an Entitlement Management System which ensures responsive and dynamic inclusion and exclusion. The changes in a resident?s socio-economic attributes are captured in Kutumba digitally. This enables auto eligibility determination for inclusion into schemes and programmes and also to weed out deceased and ineligible beneficiaries from cornering benefits. Kutumba is a digital and an integrated information system which enables flow and management of information between development sectors like health education social security etc. It enables Government to identify the needy and deliver targeted benefits and services. It empowers Government to bring in Smart Governance by adopting a data driven approach through evidence-based planning and monitoring of the programmes.

Benefits

Development and implementation of Kutumba has resulted in positive impacts in various aspects of delivery of welfare benefits. The key areas are as below: 1. Scheme formulation: Kutumba is providing primary data for scheme formulation and has enabled objective decision making with respect to eligibility criteria finalization and assessment of financial implication of the schemes. 2. Scheme Implementation: Kutumba has enabled a data driven approach for scheme implementation  (i) the need for submission of proof of eligibility has been removed or made minimal (ii) data driven eligibility assessment has removed the need for field verification (iii) rule based decision making has reduced the subjective selection of beneficiaries and (iv) enabled suo-moto delivery of welfare benefits. Gratuitous Relief payment under Disaster Relief was made suo-moto to households affected by flood. 3. 30+ IT systems in Karnataka are integrated with Kutumba and fetch data related to citizens and auto fill the forms. Platforms like Seva Sindhu Nada kacheri Suvidha which deliver services to citizens have adopted the Ask Only Once Principle and have reduced the burden of citizen having to submit documentary proofs. 4. Departments are empowered to weed out ineligible/deceased beneficiaries of their recurring schemes. Kutumba broadcasts data of deceased beneficiaries using the data shared by e-Janma birth and death registry of GoK and also provides data on exclusion criteria. Kutumba has enabled Public Distribution System to remove ineligible Priority Household (PHH) Card holders using data on exclusion criteria of income land holding vehicle ownership Government employees Income Tax Payees Professional Tax and GSTIN payees. Deceased pensioner data is also shared with Directorate of Social Security Pensions.