Nativity Card to Replace Nativity Certificate

Thiruvananthapuram: A historic decision has been taken by the Kerala Cabinet to issue nativity cards to citizens, replacing the existing nativity certificate issued by village officers. Instead of a simple certificate, residents will now receive a photo -bearing card that is authentic and legally backed. This card can also serve as an identity document for accessing government services, and distribution will be handled by tahsildars.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said at a press conference that it is concerning that people currently face difficulties in proving their own existence. Every individual should be able to easily demonstrate, to anyone, that they were born and live in the state or are permanent residents. No one should be excluded from the voter. For this purpose, every person must have an authentic, legally valid document, and the nativity card will serve this role in Kerala.

Currently, a nativity certificate proves a person’s birth and long-term residence in a state but does not have legal validity. Citizens often need to obtain multiple certificates for different purposes, which has been a recurring grievance. The introduction of the card will resolve these problems.

The Chief Minister added that the Revenue Department has been tasked with preparing the draft law to grant legal validity to the nativity card, in consultation with the Law Department, and submitting it for Cabinet consideration.