As the Prime Minister hands out the first official AADHAAR numbers in the tribal district of Nandurbar on Wednesday, civil society activists in the capital are questioning the very basis of the ambitious Unique Identification (UID) scheme.
“Even basic procedures have not been followed before launching such a massive project,” said Usha Ramanathan, an expert in law, poverty and civil rights. “The people of India, as well as Parliamentarians need to be informed, consulted and involved in a debate about a project that could have wide-ranging impacts. It should be halted before it goes any further,” she said, during a meeting here on Tuesday.
The project, first called the UID Authority of India and then renamed AADHAAR, aims to create a database with a unique identity number for every resident of the country, authenticated by fingerprints and iris scans. Its supporters, led by UIDAI chairman Nandan Nilekani, claim it will benefit the poor and bring inclusivity and efficiency to government schemes. Its detractors, who are in the nascent stages of forming a campaign against it, warn that the project will allow the government to play Big Brother, and raise concerns of profiling and exclusion.
“No legal backing”
In a statement signed by eminent citizens, including retired Supreme Court judge V.R. Krishna Iyer, historian Romila Thapar and social justice campaigner Aruna Roy, activists questioned the undemocratic process behind the project. UIDAI was set up through a government notification as an attached office of the Planning Commission without any discussion in Parliament or civil society. Despite having no legal backing – a draft Bill was approved by the Cabinet last Friday – the Authority has signed contracts and agreements with States, banks and a large number of technology companies, said the statement.
“Historically, it has always been dangerous to issue a number or card to a population,” says Ms. Ramanathan.
She raised issues such as the possibility of profiling, tracking and surveillance which could be increased by the converged information that a UID database would provide.
Apart from the dangers, activists also questioned the efficacy of the project. “Mr. Nilekani claims that UID will allow better delivery of public schemes such as PDS or NREGA. Yet, he intends to use the existing NREGA and PDS databases to enrol people for UID, so where does the ‘inclusivity' aspect come in?” asked Reetika Khare, a developmental economist at the Delhi School of Economics.
“It is a myth that technology will promote inclusivity. All it means is that anyone left out will become disenfranchised for all purposes.”
She added that while the UID might help prevent duplication of PDS beneficiaries, most of the leakage in the PDS system came from dealer fraud.
Activists asked why the government seemed to be steamrollering the project through without allowing time for public debate. Even while the pilot studies are still throwing up problems such as poor people without stable fingerprints or with iris scans affected by malnourishment-related cataracts, the Authority is rushing to formally launch the scheme.
The statement demands that a feasibility study be carried out, to demonstrate the benefits to social welfare schemes, examine the effects on privacy and detail who will have access to the UID database.
“Without guaranteed security against data theft, the wisdom of holding this in a central registry may need to be reviewed.” With Rs. 45,000 crore planned to be spent on UID over the next four years, activists demanded a cost-benefit analysis to see what the final cost would be for the end user and cardholder.
It helps the poor,have-not and LPGs but the politicians misuse this scheme and add their relative's names in this list and get the benefit.As it exist in most of the other government schemes.
What is AADHAAR??? They could have had the name in english and regional languages. Forcing Hindi on all. Not fare
This so called historian Romilla Thapar and Usha Ramanathan, an expert in law, poverty and civil rights, have no work other than blocking the country from going forward. They just want to be in limelight, and according to their policies (which I have understood) " Damn to India, I only should be in limelight, for this even if I have to block Indian progress in name of social justice". Don't they see that by this illegal immigration into India can be controlled effectively, which otherwise is causing a drain on our Resources..." When they have got no answer, they just put forward the comment "It is harmful for the poor...." without any logic... Such goons should be exposed in Public...
Before going into an analysis of how this UID will help support/strengthen government machinery, the whole idea of having a UID should be approached in a broader sense. Assigning a unique number to every individual in a country based on biometrics and storing them in centralized data base is exactly big brother system where the government controls the subjects. In a country where we dont even a clear fool proof methodology to appoint supreme court judges, how can a common man believe that a government and group of ministers will not use this data base for personal means? if the government start to operationalize the idea, without explaining the citizens(by means of public debates/advertisements) the exact system that is put in place to protect the data from being controlled by one or a group of people, that seems autocratic.
Now looking it from a plain bureaucratic sense, saying that all the data that UIDAI is collecting is just information which is available out there is just a bad excuse against privacy protection. Yes, all personal information are out there. But then each agency has its own privacy checks and safe guards. The government and what many call as a red tape does indirectly help us protect our privacy. To do away with the red tape means to remove corruptive officers and make the system efficient, instead the government points the finger at the sanity checks put in place and says its that, which is causing delay in implementation of schemes. Another reason is, well the existing data bases arent clean. Well, if the government doesnt have ability to maintain a cleaner voter data base, a cleaner PDS data base, or a cleaner NREGA data base, what makes it think that it could maintain a cleaner UID data base?
To some readers comment that, how terrorists wouldnt be able to infiltrate or buy SIM cards. Well from previous experiences in how both ruling and opposition parties when they were in government turned government machinery against minorities in various times making mass murders, wouldnt it be easy for a state machinery now to exactly grab the data base and get into the act? To put it in summary, The center and state face a extraordinary trust deficit. And to ask a common man to believe that the government will use this biometric data base for the good intent without showing even a modest proof for security checks seems more like asking everyone to show an extraordinary leap of faith.
To all who are against this article just hear what they are saying before jumping and elaborate about the advantages of UID. No body is against that whole project.There are certain elements to be corrected and get approval from people who known for their work for people.One retired supreme court judge would not have signed with out thinking about it.It is democracy and we have a constitution and traditions to follow.How come it can be allowed with out any statutes or deliberations in parliament? With all respect to Nilekani, he is just a successful businessman(may be more technical) not the one who served the society with distinction.Looking at it as technical perspective and public perspective something different.With out analysing any ground reality one cannot say that UID is a magical wand to solve all the issues.If parliament can pass the nuclear liability bill in one session they can complete the deliberation in a month if they wish to .. why should they turn a blind eye?
It is surprising that 'elitists' would raise this issue of 'systematic profiling' due to a national ID card scheme. Why shouldn't a country profile its citizens? Why not fingerprinting / iris scan? Won't it be easier to ascertain the identity of a person through this?
Now, their opposition would make sense if they are talking on behalf of people who would not want to be identified unambiguously. For example, illegal immigrants would hate for this scheme to go on air. Similarly, people who make their livelihood through corruption might not want this to go on air, since every person will have a matching set of credentials (viz. iris and fingerprint) that cannot be easily forged.
So, the real question now is: who are these elites supporting? Illegal immigrants, or someone more sinister?
I agree with the article author.All you need is a brother or relative in the UID department and you can track all project applications of your business enemy,his/her assets,whatever.. The safeguards need to be explained first.
UID is one of the Best things that could happen to any country.Its benefits will only be realised in the long run.It will give extreme security to common law abiding people that no culpirits will be spared in this country easily again.one print,one dna evidence and one false move from the fraudulents is enough to get them behind bars.Happy to hear that.I certainly belive that the opponents fear their black money and illegal activites will be truncated as every transaction-land,money shares everything can be tracked by agencies.Our security agencies will be more capable of protecting us.and the govt benefits can be given the most needed...Perfect..In few years my country will be flourishing 10times that it had done in a century....Jai Hind
people like Romila Thapar,Usha Ramanathan needs to search better job.democracy doesn't mean you will oppose everything. This is a very good scheme and defenetly serve the purpose. Parliament needs to discuss issues where views are divided not on those topic where consensus exist.
After commonwealth its going to be another biggest scam in the history of India.
In a country where police can kill the Kargil hero in fake encounter to get promotion you could image what will happen when gov. got your fingerprint...
they can easily be manipulated at crime scene ..
It is merely an experimental first measure. The scheme will mature and take roots in the due course. If anybody says this should have been done in 1947 and not in 2010 he is wrong. Better late than never.
This is a must need for India to strengthen government machinery and private infrastructure, which may later give a fool-proof identity resolution. Its a small seed for a big tree in future. Technically speaking in future it will be a primary key for all your government dealings, bank account enrollment, sim card purchase, home loan, MNREGA etc. etc. This will readily cut time in identification problems and make the services better. No need to identify yourself every time, you travel or go for any service. This is also in-turn going to provide good security to country..coz everybody will be identified well in advance. Think in future, it will be much difficult for terrorists/thieves/extremists to have a prepaid SIM using false documents....coz every SIM card wil be linked to one UID, which wil b verified by a central server to check the person buying it. Its presently being used in many countries and they have the benefit of it. And India needs to identify its people... at least for security sake....both physically and financially in future.
All the above comments are just opinions without any basis on facts. Why shouldn't the issues raised by Usha and others be considered if what we call democracy is 'vibrant' in India?
This is ridiculous. Because of people like Usha Ramanathan, India is still backward and corrupt to the core. Why don't they see the developed nations and learn. This scheme should have been brought in 1947. Already its very late. Govt should fine these kinds of people for blocking the country's development. Post-Independence, this is the best scheme ever. This scheme will change India and Indians for good.So please let it succeed.
I honestly do not agree with all the Legal Luminaries who have opposed this move. It has been stated that security against data theft ought to be guaranteed, but what has been done to develop the Technology Law to protect against Data Theft existing per se?? What have they effectively done to promote NREGA and PDS?? The SC continously says that PDS System must be strengthened, but all these people turned a deaf ear to it.Where were all these Legal Luminaries then?? This is perhaps one of the foundation projects for more significant improvements to come. Where the Legal Armada has failed to provide an effective Legal framework for Technology, Private Technology Providers will give an effective answer...
This is the most hyprocitic move of the Legal fraternity, which stands by and watches Caste-based census grip a Country, which is supposed to be "Secular", yet, they say that "Historically, it is dangerous to issue a card to the population".. I think what they mean is instead issue caste-based UIDs to the population, that will guarantee that the Politicians pockets and the Lawyers' pockets will fill up!!! And all will be happy...
Its heartening to hear such words from people who are at a higher position. The project had started long ago, but the question is just been raised. Because of such Indians only, we had lost a lot of good timely Initiatives and people like Raman, Ramanujam haven't got the freedom to express/implement their ideas. These people are not allowed to raise in the eastern countries like India. Please for God's sake, do justice for people and their thoughts with the help of allowing them the freedom of implementation of right and new ideas.
This is absolutely rubbish. All countries are using this and this is the best way to have an identity. Without this, it is very difficult to distinguish between Indian and people from other countries. This is good in all sense as if you are entitled to get something from Government your card will be swiped and this will prevent false claims by the middle man. This is a much awaited bold initiative.
All Indians should be wary of this project. Why would anyone need to create a database of fingerprints of all ten fingers ? If they want to identify an individual, one fingerprint is enough.
This database, once created will need to be guarded like the Kohinoor Diamond, because if hackers get hold of it, every Indian will lose his identity.
If a hacker gets your password, you can change it. If he gets your 10 fingerprints, you will cut off your fingers ??
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_theft
I dont understand the nature of our activits they are always against the schemes by which the nation tries to fix its problems. The biggest reality is that they dont have any solution. They cannot uproot the corruption at any level. They cannot provide a solution either. When people like Mr Nandan Nilekani are out to do some thing for nation they are questioning the legal aspect. What is there motto here? I guess to get some red tapes thats all.
UID is the best thing that can happen to independent India. The so called rights activists should come out of the notion of a 'big brother' government and appreciate the benefits of UID in good governance and targeting poverty. There are already various forms of identification that citizens commonly avail themselves. UID is a near-perfect upgrade to existing forms of identification and it is ironical that the activists protest UID just because it is most effective, readily accessible, and incorruptible. It would be reasonable for the activists to expose the 'concerns' related to privacy and profiling, but the alleged risks cannot be grounds for striking off a need for an effective form of identification. Where are these activists when day after day we hear news about certain well-off cornering the benefits of BPL families, or fraud in NREGA, or when the corrupt acquire wealth under fictious names and accounts. Whose privacy is at stake?
Why is it that debates over development issues are raised closer to the date of initiation of a project?
The UID project was given enough publicity for quite some time, at least sufficient time to start a debate on the usefulness and practicality of the project. Why raise the question at this stage close to the start of the project?
The allegations made by various personality of above news item is having substance. Also at one point or other there will be opposition from some particular section of society. If this scheme is somehow misused for getting registered the Bangla Deshi's and other intruders then what? Before implementing this massive scheme all possibilities should have been discussed and all section of society should have been taken into consideration. It should not prove to voter data base and authentication as voters of illegal Bangla Deshi and Pakistani migrants.
Following the regular process in India will always take long time. If we want to implement something useful then we can skip some. It is also stated that historically it is dangerous to issue a card or number but I don't see anything know with SSN provided in US. Everything seems to work good there. If we start noticing the nitty gritty every plan will have a flaw, but now all we have to notice is which weighs more, Helpful or Not. We can track taxes and can point out people who evade taxes and bribery, by doing so I believe India will be near supreme power. If this is the problem for someone then we need to see what kind of person they are.
I'm sorry to say that, every once in a while, The Hindu gives voice to total absence of logic as is the case here.
Does Ms. Ramanathan offer any supporting evidence to her claim that “Historically, it has always been dangerous to issue a number or card to a population,”? On the other hand, disproving her claim is every developed country in the world.
We as Indians are constantly suffering from delays, inefficiencies, corruption etc. in the system. And, for once, under the inspired leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh and Nandan Nilekani, an important project makes speedy progress, instead of congratulating them you have the so-called experts and arm-chair critics claiming it's going ahead without proper vetting. Several months have passed since the details of this project became well-known. Now, it seems that's not enough time for these slow-thinking experts.
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