Aadhaar is a game-changer for India
Claims of profiling and breach of privacy based on the digital identification system are unfounded
Aadhaar has become an important technological instrument to empower the poor. It is concretising the most important objective of Digital India: fostering digital inclusion and empowering the common Indian. Today, 119 crore Indians have Aadhaar in a population of nearly 130 crore. Acknowledged as the world’s largest digital identity programme, Aadhaar stands tall as an Indian innovation.
One needs to understand the power of a smile on the face of a poor MG N RE GA worker who had to run from pillar to post to get his entitlements. Now with Aadhaar linkage, MG N RE GA wages are directly reaching into the bank accounts of the poor without the extraneous influence of any middleman. It has been widely reported that with Aadhaar linkage, nearly 80,000 fake teachers were found in a small survey of the ministry of human resource development. Aadhaar is saving public money, which in effect is taxpayers’ money. The net savings of nearly ₹57,000 Cr ore generated by disconnecting the subsidy in case of fake gas connections or fictitious ratio n cards or fake teachers will b eu til- ised for more provisions for poor. Is it not a cause to celebrate ?
The UP A-era A ad ha ar was without any legislative approval: without any backing by a Parliamentary law. The first thing the Modi government did apart from making A ad ha ar robust, safe and secure, was to give it the security of a proper legal cover backed by a Parliamentary legislation. It has ample provisions for safe up keep, creating a robust accountability mechanism and most importantly, powerful privacy provisions. Unauthorised use of biometrics data can invite severe punitive damages as also criminal prosecution. The core biometrics—the fingerprints and their is — are duly protected by strong encryption. More than six cr ore authentications are being done everyday, nearly free of cost. The U ID AI does not maintain a database of services or utilities of individuals linked with A ad ha ar or individual details such as caste, religion, educational qualifications, medical records etc. Therefore profiling of individuals based on Aadhaaris nothing but an unfounded claim.
A ad ha ar is a digital identity to supplement physical identity. Even the core biometrics can be revealed only in case of a compelling ground of national security when a joint secretary makes a request and the same is confirmed by acommittee headed by the cabinet secretary and comprising the law secretary and IT secretary and that too for a very limited period. As many as 76 crore bank accounts have been verified using Aadhaar eKYC.
Ordinary citizens have nothing to worry but those who are involved in money launder- ing, or promoting terror funding or other related heinous of fences, may have a lot of reason to worry.
From a driving licence to a voter id card containing all the details being routinely available on websites of respective authorities these days, some form of digital identity has become common place in today’ s world. A digital identity also regulates entry in the Supreme Court or high courts, government and corporate offices or media headquarters. To visit certain countries, one is supposed to confirm identity through finger prints. Under the relevant Registration Act and Rules, there are provisions that while executing land transfer documents, you need to confirm your signature with your thumb impression — a practice being followed for more than 100 years. Even smart phones operate with fingerprints or face-recognition systems. It is curious to know that in all this, one does not have any objection, but when it comes to A ad ha ar, serious objections relating to identity verifications are raised.
The government is of the view that in accordance with the Aadhaar Act, no poor person shall be denied his or her entitlement. These must be provided using other identity documentsand efforts shall bemadeto bring the mon Aadhaar. On the issue of privacy, we need to have greater clarity. In the wake of the Supreme Court judgment the ground rule of privacy is well laid out. It is equally important to note that under the ga rb of privacy, innovation cannot be killed. The government has already setup a panel under the leadership of an eminent retired judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Srikrishna, to recommend a robust data protection law and we expect the report soon.
The UIDAI has recently added a provision for a virtual ID for those who desire virtual ID coverage over Aadhaar numbers.
The success of Aadhaar is finding a global resonance. The World Development Report 2016 said :“A digital identification system such as India’s Aadhaar, by overcoming complex information problems, helps willing governments promote the inclusion of disadvantaged groups.”
The poor man is happy and feels empowered. Aadhaar has given a big a ad ha ar( base) to India’s digital accomplishments.