A woman walks with her children past Indian security personnel in Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir [File: Danish Ismail/Reuters]
University student Mehak is used to frequent identification checks by security forces and officials in Indian-administered Kashmir’s main city of Srinagar and always carries two forms of ID. Soon, she may need to carry yet another in her purse.

Plans for a new family ID in the disputed Himalayan region have caused confusion and irritation among many residents like Mehak, while rights campaigners fear the programme could lead to increased surveillance and data hacks.

“Families already use their ID cards if they need to access any social welfare programmes. So why is this required?” said Mehak, 22, who asked that her last name be withheld.

Regional authorities have said the JK Family ID, an eight-digit code assigned to each household, would improve access to social welfare benefits such as subsidised food grains.

It means families will not have to apply for benefits under various schemes, as eligibility decisions will be automated based on the data, said Prerna Puri, a commissioner in Indian-administered Kashmir’s information technology department.

This story was originally published in aljazeera.com. Read the full story here