158 - Uncertainty looms large over UIDAI project reaching its target by Kalyan Ray

Uncertainty looms large over UIDAI project reaching its target
Kalyan Ray, New Delhi,
August 8, DH News Service:

The Nandan Nilekani-led Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has developed a snag...

The agency, which will eventually provide a unique ID number for more than 100 crore Indians, does not have enough foot soldiers for the enormous task. Almost half of the government officers chosen for UIDAI have either so far refused to join the agency or simply have not shown up even once after the posting.

Out of the total requirement of 55 officers at the headquarters and regional offices, only 10 have joined despite as many as 28 having been selected.

Nilekani tried to lure the bunch of unwilling officers by proposing extra financial incentives. But the Finance Ministry has now rejected the incentive proposals raising questions on how quickly the former Infosys boss could deliver on his most challenging assignment.

The rejection means UIDAI will have to continue handling the project with “just 50 percent” of the required manpower even as it plans to start the process of issuing the unique 12-digit numbers shortly. The UIDAI has targeted six crore Indians to be provided with the numbers in the next four years.

The gap in the officer cadre strength has been visible from the last few months. Subsequently, Nilekani approached the Prime Minister’s Office with a handsome incentive proposal that ranges from giving the officers 30 per cent of pay in the pay band as allowance plus grade pay besides housing, telephone and medical insurance facilities.
The Department of Expenditure, sources told Deccan Herald, has now turned down each and every proposal as they are not in agreement with the government norms.

The department mentioned that no special allowance could be given to the officers. Instead, it suggested to the Authority to start a performance-based incentive scheme. Nilekani proposed residential telephone up to the level of section officers, but the department stated no special dispensation can be sanctioned.

The UIDAI proposal seeking permission for leased accommodations (with certain ceiling limits) for its employees was shot down on the ground of being against the provisions under Delegation of Financial Powers Rules.

Out of the eight sanctioned posts of Deputy Director Generals - IAS officers in the rank of Joint Secretary – to man an identical number of regional offices, the Authority has got just two. And just three of the six selected for the headquarters have joined so far. The bureaucrats are understood to have been scuttling the UIDAI assignment because a central deputation in the authority does not necessarily mean a posting in Delhi.
A large number of officers are not interested in working in other cities on central deputation. There is also another group, which is not even interested in coming to Delhi because of the facilities they enjoy at the states. Some of the important vacancies are in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chandigarh as well as in the headquarters.

62 - Will unique identity scheme take away privacy of citizens? - By Mathew Thomas - Source - Deccan herald

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

152 - Will unique identity scheme take away privacy of citizens? - By Mathew Thomas

CLICK ON TITLE TO SEE ORIGINAL ARTICLE - Posted by Ram Krishna Swamy

Will unique identity scheme take away privacy of citizens?

By Mathew Thomas

Universal or Unique Identity is sometimes referred to as Unique Identity Number (UIN). The ‘Rams, Rahims and Richards’ of India would be reduced to mere numbers, if this grandiose scheme goes through....

The Central government has come up with an Orwellian scheme for identifying and cataloguing citizens of the country. It is called the Universal or Unique Identity (UID) scheme. An authority called Unique Identity Authority of India (UIAI) has been set up. Some imagine that ‘digital identity biometric smart cards’ would be issued to all people. Some others imagine that cards would not be issued, but only numbers would be given to each citizen.

Hence, the scheme is sometimes referred to as, Unique Identity Number (UIN). The ‘Rams, Rahims and Richards’ of India would be reduced to mere numbers, if this grandiose scheme goes through, as we shall see in this story. Those who control the database of citizens’ particulars would have the whip, not just metaphorically, but also literally.

Not much is known about the purposes of the scheme. A high-profile corporate chieftain, Nandan Nilekani, has been appointed the project head, with Cabinet rank. News reports give different versions. They speak of imaginary benefits, depending on the predilections of the writers. Nilekani’s high-profile media image is perhaps, one reason for the hype, the news generated.

L K Advani, as home minister, had proposed a Multi-purpose National Identity Card (MNIC). In 2003, the NDA government amended the Citizenship Act, 1955, to facilitate the issue of MNIC. The Act provided for penalising citizens with fines up to Rs 1,000 for failing to register, the onus being that on the citizen. Is this feasible, considering our illiteracy and poverty? Nilekani, however, insists, the scheme the UPA government has in mind is voluntary.

As all types of data are expected to be incorporated in the ID card, who will guarantee the personal privacy of the citizens? As it is, there are no provisions in law for protection of personal privacy in India, which most developed countries have.

The scheme is being touted as one that would ensure that the government’s largesse in NREGA and other poverty programmes reach the intended beneficiaries. The IT industry is agog with the prospect of a windfall business opportunity. Microsoft has already come, offering their services.

The dangers, setting up such a database poses to the people of India, are ignored. The government has not spelt out what would be the content of each person’s data in the database, who would have access to it and for what purposes. A news report says, “Banks eye big role in UIN project.” Would KYC responsibility of banks be transferred to UID database?

The government has launched this ‘Tughlaqian’ scheme, without discussion in Parliament. Its dangers are well known. Civil liberties are at peril. Wrong persons gaining access to the database is a real threat. The scope for abuse is immense. The governments of the USA and UK have been forced to abandon similar schemes.

Technology is no answer

It is futile to hope that the scheme would ensure that poverty-alleviation-handouts reach the intended beneficiaries. Technology is incapable of surmounting the kind of corruption we have, or fix social maladies.

As for terrorism, neither does any terrorist need an ID card nor does the lack of one prevent him from carrying out his diabolic deed. Are there not traitors with army ID cards? Is there no better way to fight terrorism? Would not better intelligence, coordination between agencies, better training and equipment do the job?

Identity theft is a major problem even in advanced countries, such as, the USA. A London School of Economics (LSE) report says, “The card system might lead to greater identity fraud — The National Identity Register may pose a far larger risk to the security of UK citizens.”

The LSE estimates costs between £10.6 billion and £19.2 billion. One estimate puts the UID project cost at Rs 1.5 lakh crore. Has the government made a cost-benefit analysis of the expenditure? What are the system maintenance costs? Does it have legislative and budgetary sanction? Could this money be put to better uses?

The UIAI chairperson claimed that the project could be completed in 12 to 18 months. What could be the basis of such a claim? Probably the software could be written up in this time. What about the implementation — how long would this take?

Why has the NIC not been given this task? Why is the project not under the IT ministry? There are questions on the need for, and efficacy/viability of, the scheme. Is this a scheme for issue of an ID card or ID number? Is the card to be carried all the time? Who is to check this? What happens if a person is found to be not carrying the card or loses it? If, instead of a card, it is only an ID number scheme, is the citizen expected to remember the number? What happens if one forgets the number? What happens if the system malfunctions and reports a person, as a non-citizen? What happens if there is a data input error?

Considering all this, it is time to ask: Is our government reducing the Indian people to zeros or mere numbers, by embarking on this harebrained scheme, spending a huge amount of tax-payers’ money without the people’s mandate?

(The writer is secretary, Citizens’ Action Forum)

36 - Citizens’ forums want UID project scrapped - Source - Deccan Herald

Monday, May 24, 2010
73 - Citizens’ forums want UID project scrapped
CLICK ON TITLE TO SEE ORIGINAL ARTICLE - Posted by Ram Krishna Swamy
Citizens’ forums want UID project scrapped
Bangalore: april 28, DH News Service

Citizens’ forums and groups have stepped up their attack on the Unique Identification Project calling for the complete scrapping of the project.

Addressing the media persons on Wednesday, Thomas Matthew of Citizens’ Action Forum said all the transactions undertaken by the UID project should be scrutinised under an accountable public body policy.

“The State government should make the financial and technological implications and costs incurred so far, including details of contracts awarded with respect to the UID project,” he said.

One of the main concerns of the groups has been the lack of public discussion on the feasibility or desirability of the project.

“It was launched as an ID card for citizens, but was later changed to a number for all citizens. UID claims that there are several benefits of possessing a number, but passes on the responsibility to Registrars,” Matthew said.

While UIDAI Chairperson Nandan Nilekani announced that the number was voluntary, the need to have such a number for obtaining any other form of service including bank accounts, would force a person to get an ID number, he added.

Executive Director of The Centre for Internet and Society, Sunil Abraham said even though the scheme is supposed to only provide verification of identity, there was no guarantee of safeguard against its misuse by potential third party users like telecom companies, banks and government departments.

“Though claims have been made of huge savings as the UID will stem leakages from welfare schemes, such as employment guarantee scheme, PDS and the LPG subsidy, but no feasibility studies have been conducted to assess the veracity of such a claim,” Sunil said.