AADHAAR RELATED ARTICLES: 10199 - Aadhaar-linked e-health register mooted

In 2009, I became extremely concerned with the concept of Unique Identity for various reasons. Connected with many like minded highly educated people who were all concerned.

On 18th May 2010, I started this Blog to capture anything and everything I came across on the topic. This blog with its million hits is a testament to my concerns about loss of privacy and fear of the ID being misused and possible Criminal activities it could lead to.

In 2017 the Supreme Court of India gave its verdict after one of the longest hearings on any issue. I did my bit and appealed to the Supreme Court Judges too through an On Line Petition.

In 2019 the Aadhaar Legislation has been revised and passed by the two houses of the Parliament of India making it Legal. I am no Legal Eagle so my Opinion carries no weight except with people opposed to the very concept.

In 2019, this Blog now just captures on a Daily Basis list of Articles Published on anything to do with Aadhaar as obtained from Daily Google Searches and nothing more. Cannot burn the midnight candle any longer.

"In Matters of Conscience, the Law of Majority has no place"- Mahatma Gandhi

Ram Krishnaswamy

Sydney, Australia.

Aadhaar

The UIDAI has taken two successive governments in India and the entire world for a ride. It identifies nothing. It is not unique. The entire UID data has never been verified and audited. The UID cannot be used for governance, financial databases or anything. It’s use is the biggest threat to national security since independence. – Anupam Saraph 2018

When I opposed Aadhaar in 2010 , I was called a BJP stooge. In 2016 I am still opposing Aadhaar for the same reasons and I am told I am a Congress die hard. No one wants to see why I oppose Aadhaar as it is too difficult. Plus Aadhaar is FREE so why not get one ? Ram Krishnaswamy

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.-Mahatma Gandhi

In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place.Mahatma Gandhi

“The invasion of privacy is of no consequence because privacy is not a fundamental right and has no meaning under Article 21. The right to privacy is not a guaranteed under the constitution, because privacy is not a fundamental right.” Article 21 of the Indian constitution refers to the right to life and liberty -Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi

“There is merit in the complaints. You are unwittingly allowing snooping, harassment and commercial exploitation. The information about an individual obtained by the UIDAI while issuing an Aadhaar card shall not be used for any other purpose, save as above, except as may be directed by a court for the purpose of criminal investigation.”-A three judge bench headed by Justice J Chelameswar said in an interim order.

Legal scholar Usha Ramanathan describes UID as an inverse of sunshine laws like the Right to Information. While the RTI makes the state transparent to the citizen, the UID does the inverse: it makes the citizen transparent to the state, she says.

Good idea gone bad
I have written earlier that UID/Aadhaar was a poorly designed, unreliable and expensive solution to the really good idea of providing national identification for over a billion Indians. My petition contends that UID in its current form violates the right to privacy of a citizen, guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. This is because sensitive biometric and demographic information of citizens are with enrolment agencies, registrars and sub-registrars who have no legal liability for any misuse of this data. This petition has opened up the larger discussion on privacy rights for Indians. The current Article 21 interpretation by the Supreme Court was done decades ago, before the advent of internet and today’s technology and all the new privacy challenges that have arisen as a consequence.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MP Rajya Sabha

“What is Aadhaar? There is enormous confusion. That Aadhaar will identify people who are entitled for subsidy. No. Aadhaar doesn’t determine who is eligible and who isn’t,” Jairam Ramesh

But Aadhaar has been mythologised during the previous government by its creators into some technology super force that will transform governance in a miraculous manner. I even read an article recently that compared Aadhaar to some revolution and quoted a 1930s historian, Will Durant.Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Rajya Sabha MP

“I know you will say that it is not mandatory. But, it is compulsorily mandatorily voluntary,” Jairam Ramesh, Rajya Saba April 2017.

August 24, 2017: The nine-judge Constitution Bench rules that right to privacy is “intrinsic to life and liberty”and is inherently protected under the various fundamental freedoms enshrined under Part III of the Indian Constitution

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the World; indeed it's the only thing that ever has"

“Arguing that you don’t care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don’t care about free speech because you have nothing to say.” -Edward Snowden

In the Supreme Court, Meenakshi Arora, one of the senior counsel in the case, compared it to living under a general, perpetual, nation-wide criminal warrant.

Had never thought of it that way, but living in the Aadhaar universe is like living in a prison. All of us are treated like criminals with barely any rights or recourse and gatekeepers have absolute power on you and your life.

Announcing the launch of the # BreakAadhaarChainscampaign, culminating with events in multiple cities on 12th Jan. This is the last opportunity to make your voice heard before the Supreme Court hearings start on 17th Jan 2018. In collaboration with @no2uidand@rozi_roti.

UIDAI's security seems to be founded on four time tested pillars of security idiocy

1) Denial

2) Issue fiats and point finger

3) Shoot messenger

4) Bury head in sand.

God Save India

Saturday, July 30, 2016

10199 - Aadhaar-linked e-health register mooted - New Indian Express

Aadhaar-linked e-health register mooted

By Express News Service

Published: 06th July 2016 05:41 AM

Health Minister K K Shailaja Teacher talking to Aleena of Koonammavu who suffered bone fracture, after inaugurating Cardiac Cath Lab and Advanced Invasive Care Unit at General Hospital in Kochi | Melton Antony

KOCHI: The State Government is planning to introduce a e-health register that is linked to Aadhaar card, with the aim of providing comprehensive healthcare to the common man, said Health and Family Welfare Minister K K Shailaja.

The e-register, containing health status of all citizens, will be an authentic document on the public health of Kerala society.

Speaking after inaugurating new the cathlab and advanced intensive care unit at Ernakulam General Hospital here on Tuesday, Shailaja said, "such a facility will be helpful when patients are rushed to hospital in emergency situations. In phase-II, the project will be implemented in seven districts, including Ernakulam," said the Minister, adding that the government had started inspecting the taluk and district hospitals in the State.

"Government hospitals are still functioning with the staff pattern set in 1961. A change in staff pattern is essential to make functioning of the hospitals more effective. Despite Kerala being the best in the country in public healthcare, almost all hospitals in the State are over-crowded," said Shailaja, adding that the government's aim was to provide better treatment at reasonable cost.

"Primary Health Centres will be converted into 'Family Health Centres,' where the health status of people from a particular region could be monitored. There is nothing wrong in integrating Yoga into treatment, if it could have a positive result. But, it should be done in a secular manner," she said.

Shailaja is of the opinion that hospital buildings should look beautiful. "The ambiance of hospitals can have an impact on patients. Beautifying hospital building and their surroundings will be great relief to patients. The Hospital Development Committees can do a lot in this regard," she said.

The function was presided over by Hibi Eden MlA. District Collector M G Rajamanickam welcomed the gathering. MLAs M Swaraj, K J Maxi and John Fernandez; former MLA Ludy Louiz; former MP P Rajeev; district panchayat president Asha Sanil; councillors and senior doctors were also present

Govt service mandatory for PG doctors

Later, speaking at a meet-the-press programme held at the Ernakulam Press Club, the Minister said the government was planning to make government service mandatory for those who complete medical PG courses.

"A decision in this regard was taken as the government is finding it difficult to get specialist doctors to work in the public sector. There have been complaints of dearth of specialist doctors in many hospitals. Though the government is ready to make appointments, most specialist doctors are not willing to join government service. The plan is to make government service mandatory for a minimum of three years. It is a fact that the government sector is not attractive in terms of monetary benefit. But, doctors should consider it as their responsibility to serve society," said the Minister, adding that a health policy was being prepared.