A birth certificate is a ticket to citizenship, without which an individual does not officially exist and therefore lacks legal access to privileges and protection. A birth certificate as a government document enables an individual to enjoy the rights and protections of the nation. Registration of birth not only provides acknowledgment but also gives legal status to one’s existence. This allows to access fundamental rights such as Education, Health care and protection. Thus Universal birth registration is important to prove your identity and benefit from different services. In addition birth registration assists the government to address concerns like doses of the immunization vaccine to be supplied and the provision of educational and child care facilities within the country.

Birth registration provides legal proof for identity civil status, age, dependency status in the family and a wide variety of rights for an individual. Registration of birth and issuing of birth certificate are interlinked events. Registration of births is very important for obtaining a birth certificate. The registration of birth and death Act clearly specifies that registers in local bodies are required to issue the birth certificates free of charges on births reported within 21 days of occurrence.

BENEFITS OF BIRTH REGISTRATION:

A birth certificate is the first legal document in which the name of the child gets entered along with the name of the parents. It may become necessary for one to prove percentage family relationships and for the settlement of property rights. A birth certificate is necessary to establish one’s date of birth and proof of age which may be required in a wide range of areas such as:

• Admission of children in schools where the proof of age, name and nationality are important.
• Admission to government, semi government & private services.
• To enroll the name of the child on the ration card.
• Availing the welfare scheme and grants of government for those below poverty line.
• Admission to orphanages, destitute homes, shelter homes, where the age limits is mandatory to determine the individual in the category of juvenile, Adult or aged.
• Employment in factories and other industries.
• Recruitment in armed forces and military services
• Proof of identity to appear on the vote list for local elections.
• To prove domicile and nationality
• For availing schemes and insurance policies.
• To avail the protection of law, especially for children committing an offence before attaining the age of 18 years
• Claiming social security benefits under health schemes, pensions and other welfare schemes.
• Obtaining Driving license and  passport.