It is downright silly to even try denying the damage caused by the news reports about faking information to get a UID. IMHO, this fiasco would've happened despite any number of precautions. But that's besides the point. So, is all lost?
It is important to understand the consequences clearly, before freaking out.
Take the case of fake doctor's certificate used to enroll for UID. What happens next?
The person may receive a UID (Aadhaar number). Remember, he has only enrolled. If he has already enrolled earlier - then he will not get a second Aadhaar number. Then the fake document is a non-issue.
Let us say this is the first time he enrolled, so he gets his Aadhaar number. What he really got, is an incorrect ID, not a fake ID. It still represents him and him-only. Since he can never get another Aadhaar number with his real name, he must live his life as the fake person.
OR, choose to go back to the government, give his real papers and get the records corrected. This has to happen sooner than later - at least to avoid explaining life-long, why his wife's husband's name is different from his.
Meanwhile what can he use this ID for? To get his rations? To get his NREGA wages? In each of these cases, the eligibility for the scheme is determined by the ID, as well as the low-income. After similar eligibility faking, he can get the benefits. How big a problem is it?
The benefits have (however wrongly) gone to a real person. You cannot create 100s of ghost ration cards, ghost pensioners or ghost govt employees sucking out your tax money. That brings us to how the UID is really different
To know more,
One last word to say about the Headlines Today report: It begins with...
It is important to understand the consequences clearly, before freaking out.
Take the case of fake doctor's certificate used to enroll for UID. What happens next?
The person may receive a UID (Aadhaar number). Remember, he has only enrolled. If he has already enrolled earlier - then he will not get a second Aadhaar number. Then the fake document is a non-issue.
Let us say this is the first time he enrolled, so he gets his Aadhaar number. What he really got, is an incorrect ID, not a fake ID. It still represents him and him-only. Since he can never get another Aadhaar number with his real name, he must live his life as the fake person.
OR, choose to go back to the government, give his real papers and get the records corrected. This has to happen sooner than later - at least to avoid explaining life-long, why his wife's husband's name is different from his.
Meanwhile what can he use this ID for? To get his rations? To get his NREGA wages? In each of these cases, the eligibility for the scheme is determined by the ID, as well as the low-income. After similar eligibility faking, he can get the benefits. How big a problem is it?
The benefits have (however wrongly) gone to a real person. You cannot create 100s of ghost ration cards, ghost pensioners or ghost govt employees sucking out your tax money. That brings us to how the UID is really different
Now, whoever understands that will understand the true potential of the UID.
- The number is given to a real person. To only one person. And that person can have no other number.
- Can this be said about any of our other IDs and ID cards?
To know more,
- please come visit our facebook page, www.facebook.com/SupportUID
- -or- follow @supportuid on twitter. Follow @supportuid ,
- -or- begin a conversation with us on our facebook page.
One last word to say about the Headlines Today report: It begins with...
"... was supposed to be the most secure identity card for Indian citizens."Nope. Not "secure identity". Not just for "citizens". The Aadhar number was meant to be a (in my words) unique, reliable, widely-accepted and easily verifiable identity for all residents. Security is still possible. Residents to Citizens mapping is also possible. For that, the Home Ministry must play ball.
In my views, UID should follow the NPR programme. Let the Home ministry finalise NPR and the areas where they complete the NPR task, let the UIDAI step in to give ADHAAR to people registered in NPR. then make UID numbers and bio metrics collected by UIDAI a part of NPR database.
ReplyDeleteHmm.. I was thinking of reversing the order, but your comment set me thinking (will comment more on it when I am sure of what I am saying, LOL).
ReplyDeleteMy current thought:
1) NPR = Identify person + determine citizenship.
2) Aadhaar = Identify person
3) NPR -> Have Aadhaar? Good.. now let us see if you are a citizen... (not an easy task, and they are fuzzing around this part, IMHO)... you are? good.. let's get you in the register and here is your ID card ...
4)ID cards in general are bad idea, but heck, we are still in draft stage of the idea!)
I am sure you get my drift. :)
Well from security point of view, which is valid concern of the MHA
ReplyDelete1. why would somebody who is not a citizen and has some evil designs in mind would like to get identified by getting a UID card!
And
2. do we intend to issue UIDs to non citizens also ? (who are not evil, but are here for some other reasons!) They can in turn use these cards for some services that the Govt offers to Citizen of India and claim citizenship later.
Y'day's compromise appears to be reasonable to me. Combines the best of what I wrote above with the reversed sequence too. i.e., (unless I misinterpreted reports)
ReplyDelete- if enrolled with Aadhaar first, give only additional info to NPR
- if enrolling with NPR first, get Aadhaar @ no extra effort.
@anon: Aadhaar (UID) intent is to give UIDs to ALL RESIDENTS (no citizenship proof reqd; but RESIDENCE proof IS required). That is more deterministic, IMO. I am still a bit confused on how NPR will *determine* citizenship. Not being sarcastic or -ve about it; a genuine concern. Anyhoo... we are chugging along now and that is good news.
But the larger concern to me is that most of civic society is in a confused state - and is opposing the UID project... So http://thinkuid.org (launched on 26-Jan) is going to keep working on building awareness.
lets hope this leads the Country to the desired outcome.
ReplyDeleteNot to oppose this compromise formula, afterall those who have decided are very experienced and intelligent people. I still believe the compromise should not be reached to satisfy two parties only, particularly when the issue is of National importance. Civic society is not opposing the UID but is confused because we are not able to understand why two parties are doing same thing and why are they fighting to move independently, where as it can be as simple as your second point i.e - Enroll with NPR , get Aadhaar @ no extra effort!
Why can't UID step in after NPR has completed its task? After all MHA is better equipped to decide the citizenship of the people! In fact UID should have a mandate of providing UID to and collecting biometrics of people which are identified as Indian Population by MHA through NPR project.
It was good discussion with you!