30th August 2010
Andhra Pradesh is all set to be the pilot state for one of the most ambitious projects in recent times, the distribution of unique identification numbers slated to begin in the first week of September. The UIDAI aims to stagger enrolment by implementing the exercise in phases, adding 10 million people in the first phase (2010-11), 100 million each in 2011-12 and 2012-13, and 300 million each year thereafter until 2017, when the exercise is projected to be completed. This project is comparable to the introduction of EVMs in India that revolutionised voting practices through technology-enabled systems. UIDAI representatives, armed with hi-tech electronic equipment are set to bring sweeping changes to public welfare scheme such as NREGA, PDS, pensions, etc.
This is the Nandan Nilekani test.
the UIDAI is a unique number that identifies a Nikhila Gill, say, with a set of biometrics, nothing more, nothing less.
But, if the government then links the UIDAI number and says the money due to a person working on an NREGA project would go only to a post office account the fingerprint record on both the NREGA project and the post office account will be matched to ensure they are the same the amount of leakages can be reduced dramatically.
Nilekani has steered clear of this political minefield by leaving it to the government to decide on using his number. But unless the government uses this number for what it was meant, there's little point having the UIDAI. Here is the irony. If there is a lot of protest against the UIDAI, it means it is working; a great deal of protest, however, can also kill the project.
Apart from the politicians and bureaucrats who could get hurt once the project takes off, what is curious is the role of activists who are protesting against the project. Some cite the UK government's decision not to have a centralised database of biometrics on privacy grounds, others raise the fear of governments using this for wrong reasons, targeting Muslims for instance. Nilekani's defence is that he is not collecting any data apart from fingerprints, and that he will produce a very secure database. the onus of proving this lies on Nilekani.
getting tough privacy laws will be a good start.
Nilekani will have a lot of people baying for his blood. the last thing he needs is to give them a good reason.
feedit@expressindia.com