Project on UID
The scheme will be implemented in three years. The UID project, however, ... The unique ID will require creation of a database that links an ..... important decision at this point of time to take the project forward. .... The right to privacy of citizens will be greatly compromised if MNICs are made compulsory. ...
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Unique identification in India is a Unique ID Project in which every citizen would have one unique identification number that will identify him/ her. It would not just the government track down individuals as is highlighted by the media, but would make life far easier for citizens as they would not have to submit so many documents each time they want to avail a new service – private or government. The Unique Identification Authority of India is being established under the aegis of the Planning Commission for which a notification has been issued in January 2009. A provision of Rs.100 crore has been made in the annual Plan 2009-10. The Unique Identification Authority of India or the UIDAI, is an agency of the Government of India responsible for implementing the envisioned Multipurpose National Identity Card or Unique Identification card (UID Card) project in India. It was established in February 2009, and will own and operate the Unique Identification Number database. The authority will aim at providing a unique number to all Indians, but not smart cards. The authority would provide a database of residents containing very simple data in biometric.
The agency is headed by a chairman, holds a cabinet rank. The UIDAI is part of the Planning Commission of India. Nandan Nilekani, a former co- chairman of Infosys Technologies, was appointed as the first Chairman of the authority in June 2009. R.S Sharma, an IAS Officer of Jharkhand Government cadre has been appointed as the Director General and Mission Director of the Authority. He is known for his best effort in e-Governance project for Jharkhand State and working as an IT secretary he received a number of awards for best Information Technology Trends State in India. It may be recallled that an Empowered Group of Ministers (EGOM) headed by the then External Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukherji, had approved the establishment of a Unique Identity Authority for all the residents of the country in November 2008. The UID Authority would be under the Planning Commission. The Home Ministers and Ministers for IT and Communications, Law and Panchayati Raj were members of the EGOM while the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, was a standing invitee. The proposed system envisages collaboration among several government agencies backed by intensive use of information technology. This would end needless harassment that people face for availing of basic government services like issuance of passports, driving licences, Electoral Identity Cards, PAN Card, ration card, etc. This scheme is designed to leverage intensive usage of the UID for multipurposes to provide an efficient and convenient mechanism to update information. Photographs and biometric data will be added progressively to make the identification foolproof. Easy registration and information change procedures are envisaged for the benefit of the people. The authority was notified on January 28 this year as an attached office under the aegis of the Planning Commission with an initial core team of 115 officials and staff. The scheme will be implemented in three years. The UID project, however, has been in the offing for over six years. For instance, in 2008, the government implemented a pilot project for a ‘Multi- purpose National Identity Card (MNIC)’ in 13 districts of 12 states and one Union Territory wherein more than 1.2 million identity cards were issued to people above 18 years of age. Besides, to facilitate the project, Section 14A was inserted in the Citizenship Act, 1955 to issue a national identity card to every citizen of the country. However, the MNIC project was initiated under the Vajpayee-led NDA government (2002), which was continued by the current UPA government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The necessity for a centrally-issued ID was accentuated by the growing problems of illegal immigrants in various parts of the country. However, the events of November 26 in Mumbai accelerated the setting up of the UIDAI. The body was set up on January 27, 2009. The initial phase of the project is expected to cover nine states and four Union Territories. The UID will be issued to people living in the coastal villages of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal. The Union Territories of Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Lakshadweep, Puducherry and Andaman & Nicobar Islands shall also be covered in this first phase expected to deliver the identity cards by early 2010. The project envisages assigning a unique identification (ID) number to each resident in the country to eliminate the need for multiple identification mechanisms. Moreover, the project will eventually become the underpinning of the Citizens Smart Card Project, which will enable citizens to avail subsidies on food, energy, education, etc, depending on their entitlements, according to the 11th report of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission.
The unique ID will require creation of a database that links an individual to unique identifier that remains constant over his life-span, like parentage, date and place of birth. The card automatically gets activated as a voter identity card at the age of 18. The identification will act as a check against illegal immigration into the country as it is a serious threat to national security. The project lays special focus on the border areas of the country with illegal immigration in mind. Almost all the firms with an India focus will be eyeing this deal — players like TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL Technologies, along with smaller players like Spanco, Bartronics, Gemini Traze and NXP Semiconductors.