Securing Personal Data with Iron-Clad Blockchain Technology: How Plenome is Tackling Identity Fraud in Organ Donation and Voter Authentication
In India, widespread issues of identity fraud are prevalent beyond the financial sector, notably affecting critical areas such as organ donation and electoral processes. Addressing these challenges head-on, start-up Plenome Technologies, incubated at IIT-Madras, has developed an innovative blockchain-based framework designed to provide robust authentication and traceability, reducing fraud and enhancing trust in these sensitive domains.
The Need for Secure and Immutable Data Management
Currently, organ donation data in India is often managed through spreadsheets, which, despite being digital, remain highly susceptible to tampering and unauthorized changes. Tracking the origin and authenticity of organ donations is challenging, raising concerns about illegal trafficking and unethical practices.
Similarly, electoral fraud involving fake voter identities has been a persistent problem. Allegations such as the creation of over 100,000 fake votes in Bangalore Central during the 2024 general elections underscore the urgent need for secure person authentication methods.
Plenome’s Blockchain Solutions
Plenome Technologies, co-founded by Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal—a Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awardee from IIT-Madras—has responded to these challenges with two key blockchain-powered tools: OrganEase and BlockVote.
OrganEase: Tracking Organ Donations Securely
OrganEase leverages a private blockchain to record consenting organ donors’ biometric and personal data in an immutable ledger. Unlike conventional spreadsheets, this blockchain framework guarantees data authenticity by ensuring that once information about consent and donation is recorded, it cannot be altered or falsified.
Prof. Rajagopal explains, “Our solution ensures organs are traceable to legitimate sources, effectively preventing the use of trafficked organs, and guarantees the transparency and integrity of the entire donation process.” Currently, OrganEase is undergoing pilot testing with the government of a southern Indian state, marking a significant step toward transforming organ donation transparency.
BlockVote: Authenticating Voters Cryptographically
BlockVote applies the same private blockchain principles to voter authentication. It cryptographically encodes voter information and matches biometric data—including Aadhaar details—against a benchmark stored on the blockchain. This ensures that only eligible, registered voters can cast their ballots, thereby mitigating risks of voter impersonation and fraudulent voting.
An additional advantage of BlockVote is the possibility it opens for non-resident voters to participate in elections from anywhere in India, thanks to its secure remote authentication capabilities. The technology proved its potential during a pilot run at the IIT-Madras student elections.
On why Plenome chose to develop a private blockchain rather than rely on public blockchain platforms, Prof. Rajagopal notes, “Generic blockchain platforms are like using a sledgehammer to fix all problems. Private blockchains allow us to tailor the solution precisely to our specific use cases, providing both efficiency and security.”
The Future of Identity Security in Critical Sectors
The innovations by Plenome Technologies showcase a promising application of blockchain technology beyond its traditional financial use cases. By bringing immutable, verifiable, and secure data management to organ donation and voter authentication, the start-up is contributing to reducing identity fraud and enhancing trust in these vital public systems.
As these pilots progress, the potential for wider adoption could herald a new era of data integrity and security in India, safeguarding personal information with truly iron-clad technology.
For more details, visit The Hindu BusinessLine.
