Events & Issues
New
Delhi, 3 July 2012
Aadhaar: Unique Identity Number
IN SEARCH OF BASE & IDENTITY
By Dr. S.Saraswathi
Former Director, ICSSR, New Delhi)
Ridiculed as a “white elephant” by
many and condemned as a “novelty” far removed from the reality of prevailing Indian
conditions, Aadhaar continues to grow
strong as the Government’s pet project. Notwithstanding, the aam aadmi neither understand the plan nor
its utility.
Started with great expectations and
given a unique status, Aadhaar or Unique
Identity (UID) number has got caught in perennial controversies since its
inception in 2006. Perhaps, this is due
to the unsuitability of private sector thinking and practices to a public
sector project wherein the UID raises more questions than providing answers for
building an authentic data base on India’s population.
Think. The common man does not know
what Aadhaar is about, what its
utility is, and what would be the long-term consequences if he does not enroll
for it. All the aam aadmi knows is that it is a massive project entailing several
thousand crores expenditure wherein its cost has exceeded original estimates.
He is also aware that it has no
development object and has created differences between Ministries and Departments
over over-lapping responsibilities, duplication of work and lack of
coordination. Needless to say, the project is shrouded in mystery over its
purpose and operation.
Recall, UID started in 2006 with the
limited objective of providing ID cards to BPL families. The UIDAI (The Unique Identity Authority of
India) was constituted by the Planning Commission in January 2009. Its task was to collect demographic and
bio-metric information and issue ID numbers to individuals which materialised
last year.
Aadhaar is a 12- digit individual
identification number issued by the UIDAI on behalf of the Government which
will serve as proof of a person’s identity and address anywhere in India. The number is valid for life. The original idea was to cover the entire population,
which has now been scaled down to 600 million by 2014 and enrolment is
optional.
Pertinently, UID is also similar to
the National Population Register (NPR) in many respects and the Multi-purpose
National Identity Card (MNIC) which is compulsory registration of all citizens
under the Citizenship Act of 1955.
Importantly, the crux of the UID
issue is the question of adding bio-metric data in the register, as originally
suggested. Notably, instead of simplifying the operation by using existing
data, a huge project has been floated which has not only raised several
administrative issues but also has financial implications.
In fact, since its inception, lack
of legislative sanction and possible duplication of work vis-à-vis the Population Register has been haunting the UIDAI. Shockingly,
it has no statutory status. As the
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance rejected the National Identity
Authority of India
Bill 2010 which was intended to provide a legal basis to UIDAI. On the contrary, it raised questions regarding
ethics, feasibility, purpose and conduct of the project as well as its
legality.
The Standing Committee pointed out that
the scheme was approved by the Government without any feasibility study being
conducted, mandatory in every large-scale project. Doubts were also raised regarding UIDAI’s
effectiveness of its methodology and reliability of the technology used.
The Committee also remarked that the
project was directionless with no clarity of purpose. It urged the Government to reconsider and
review the UID Scheme as the scheme would have serious consequences for national
security.
Undeniably, for Aadhaar to be relevant it must be continuously updated for
additions and deletions without which the present exercise would become futile
and irrelevant. Thus, one can envisage a permanent UIDAI taking shape as a parallel
to the Census organization.
There is no gainsaying, that similar
projects in other countries too have met with serious objections and been
dropped. It is incomprehensible why India is toying
with projects which have failed to take-off in other countries. Akin to the
country often knowingly or unknowingly purchasing out-moded equipments and out-dated
technology when the world has gone far ahead.
Further, it is claimed that the UID
number will give the much-needed identity to those having no documentary proof
of their existence in the country and make them eligible for benefitting from
various welfare schemes. Namely, Public
Distribution Scheme (PDS), National Rural Employment Guarantee Authority
(NREGA) and National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) will become accessible to the
poor with the UID card.
Also, tasks like opening a bank
account, taking out an insurance policy, getting a passport, gas connection,
bank loans, etc., would become easier. Primarily, Aadhaar is meant to be used as basis
for efficient delivery of welfare services. Questionably, the Government has
yet to clarify why it needs such a huge project involving enormous expenditure simply
to establish an individual’s identity.
As it stands, every citizen above 18
years already has a voters’ identity card which could have been enlarged to
cover the entire population. More. There
is a permanent Census organisation with trained staff and nation-wide offices
preparing the National Population Register.
Arguably, if the assumption is that
the data available with these organisations are not reliable, then the effort
should be directed to improving the methodology and techniques of data
collection and analysis and making these operations sound.
Moreover, there is also no guarantee
that the UIDAI can do a better job than the Census. Some reports point to malpractices in acquiring
the Aadhaar card. What to speak of the high rate of discrepancies in data collection
by the UIDAI and other organisations.
Therefore, the decision to keep UID optional is the best option.
In addition, the scope for violation
of people’s right to privacy is cited by many as the most objectionable aspect
of Aadhaar. The UID facilitates personal information
including finger prints and eye iris scans becoming public and falling in the
hands of private parties like schools, hospitals, banks
et al.
Clearly, this has the potential to open
the Pandora’s Box of misuse and lead to crime.
Any wonder, the educated class’s aversion to avail of Aadhaar. Hence, the UIDAI needs to
clarify all aspects of the UID and convince people about its purpose and
utility. ---- INFA
(Copyright, India
News and Feature Alliance)
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