APAAR ID: Parents’ bodies raise concerns about potential misuse of data

As APAAR ID continues to spark confusion among parents and parent organisations the Global Parentsrsquo Teachers Association has demanded clarity from the state government Amid suspense about rushing on the APAAR ID creation parents fear their childrsquos academic data health data etc will be compromisedThe Global Parents Teachers Association PTA has sent a formal letter to the principal secretary of the School Education and Sports Department the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the state project director of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan seeking clarification on the APAAR ID and what actually it is needed forA sample APAAR IDAccording to the Global PTA no substantial awareness campaign on par with largescale initiatives like Swachh Bharat or the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana has been conducted to inform the public and stakeholders about the purpose and benefits of the APAAR ID Many parents worry that the new system might link sensitive personal information including academic achievements and failures as well as health records including vaccination details etcldquoParents have voiced concerns ranging from how the data may be used to whether the APAAR ID is truly mandatory They question why a separate APAAR ID is needed when Aadhaar cards are already required said Rohit Dandwate president of Global PTAWidespread rumoursSome parents wonder if students who do not obtain an APAAR ID might lose their spot in school or face difficulties in the future Others fear this new registry could be used to push specific health measures or vaccines without clear parental consentldquoDue to social media people have all kinds of doubts Parents are asking if their childrsquos academic as well as healthrelated data will be under government control once they submit this consent letter They want to know if any kind of vaccine will be administered or whether they will eventually be forced to comply with new rulesIllegal schoolsDandwate also raised questions about illegal schools He said Further complicating the issue the Unified District Information System for Education UDISE data reportedly indicates that 674 illegal schools operate across the state Parents are left wondering how such institutions will handle the new registry Will students in unrecognised schools be eligible for an APAAR ID Could these children be at risk of missing out on important educational documentationrdquo said DandwateGovernment intervention soughtA member of the Legislative Council Sachin Ahir has raised the issue in the Lower House urging state authorities to provide immediate clarification ldquoWe need transparency to ensure no childrsquos education suffers due to confusion or lack of awarenessrdquo he stated at the recent assembly sessionManan Ahuja a parent of a Std VIII student asked ldquoWhat specific benefits do students gain by creating the APAAR ID If it is truly mandatory why isnrsquot there a largescale promotional campaign Will personal data and vaccination details be tied to this new registry When we asked the school authorities to clear our doubts they told us its just like an Aadhaar card then why is it needed at all Schools are clueless themselves but are under pressure to submit consent formsrdquoParents and educators alike are calling for the government to address these concerns urgently to avoid widespread confusionldquoWe have submitted our queries to the concerned authorities and are hoping for a swift response Only transparent communication and robust public outreach can help dispel the rumours and ensure that the APAAR ID serves its intended purposerdquo Dandwate addedEducation official speaksOfficialSchool education departmentldquoThe APAAR ID is an essential tool for students and we are ensuring that all students in Maharashtra have access to this vital resource Parents do not have to fall prey to any rumours no data of their child will be compromisedrdquo said an official of the school education department