THE BIG CHALLENGE
I was reading about the Unique Identification Number Project led by ex-Infy CEO Nandan Nilekani. Initially I felt skeptical about it's success. I wondered whether census would be carried out within a year to get the exact head-count. With the already present identification schemes like voter-id, passport, PAN card, what unique purpose will the UID serve? How will it be possible to assign a UID to every single Indian?
THE PROMISE
Despite so many challenges, UID project head Nandan Nilekani has promised that, the first batch of the UIDs will roll out within 12-18 months. Given his extraordinary corporate background, one could trust this words unlike that of our politicians who are known for their false promises.
WHY UID?
No doubt, if the project accomplished successfully will obviate the people to carry multiple documents and id-proofs like ration cards, credit cards etc. It seems logical to have one common ID proof. A person holding a ration-card won't have a credit card. One with credit card doesn't have a voter's id. I recently got my voter's id and always used a PAN card as my ID. Don't you think there should be one uniform system to maintain the identity of the citizens?
TWIST IN THE TALE
Now, Mr. Nilekani, says - UID is optional!!! It isn't a proof of citizenship.
Phew!!! why then should one carry out such a project? PAN cards, passports, voter's id are already serving the purpose what UID project has promised to achieve. With the other forms of ID proofs too, one doesn't need to carry multiple documents. People with PAN cards or any other ID are anyway not questioned to show other documents. Why should one add more confusion by introducing something which is again optional??
Firstly, countries that have a reasonable level of governance is place have a unique identity concept even as they have multiple registration cards for their citizens. Even a country like Malaysia has it. Government of India perhaps has not been able to say to a resident: Show me this id card at an office or for a government delivered service and we will accept it as adequate.
ReplyDeleteExisting candidates id cards such as pan card or election id cards or ration cards or passport do not measure-up to the requirements of an identity proof: these are not universally possessed by residents, these are not free from duplicates or ghosts, verification is not rigorous (with the exception of passports).
UID does not provide you a card. It is a 16 digit number that is the underlying key to all other cards that are assigned to residents. It is something like social security number in the US, a residence card number in Europe, which is given to citizens and non-citizen residents alike.
Multiple identity is invitation to non-existent persons getting an identity.
Having a single id number to every person gets his entitled dignity when he meets an official at a service window of government service, while the service proving official is instructed to accept the card that can be verified on line using simple technologies and biometics.
There is almost universal buy-in to this concept in India. It is one of Nilekani's horizontal ideas that unites the country's otherwise fractious political discourse.
There are 3 issues that bother people:
i) security of the databases and privacy issues
ii) feasibility of technology
iii) costs involved vrs. benefits
The point about security and privacy are taken very seriously by Nilekani and his team. Today, id based data sits with
(i) Telephone companies
(ii)Credit card companies
(iii) Election commission
(iv) income tax (PAN)
(v) Oil companies - LPG consumer databases.
The detractors must focus on these databases first before they indulge in rabble rousing. Security issues with every other sensitive systems. The national securities depository NSDL holds the de-materialized securities in india worth USD 1 trillion or more.
The other two points about cost and technology should be handled by the checks and balances system of government finances and techies that Nandan Nilekani represents.
The discourse is now past the debates on whether we should have it but have moved on to who and how will use the number and for what purpose. The ecosystem of UID users are government agencies and private sector service providers who are citizen/ resident focussed. This project seems like a movement that could be a truly empowering the citizen and one that facilitates access to citizens to government and private sector users.
I agree with the person above.
ReplyDeleteMoreover, India is HUGE! We can't bring out a standard overnight. Though it might not serve the purpose of a sureshot one-way point of authentication of yourself, it gives you a way to merit yourself.
UID must link all the entitlements to that person. And so far, there s no wrd that it wouldn't! That is fair enough, to me at least...
The good use of UID must be to tell other's about your credibility; exactly the way SSN does in USA. We do a mischief, its linked to UID. We don't pay our debts, well, UID tells that. Fair deal.. Yes?
To provide with a identity proof, we surely have our driving license or Voter's ID..
Lets give it some time. Once they start implementing this idea, I'd love to see corruption go away.
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