The Hindu
TODAY'S PAPER » NATIONAL » KARNATAKA
BANGALORE, January 8, 2011
STAFF REPORTER
Concerns around privacy and security of data raised during talk
Towards the end of his talk on Aadhaar and its role in transforming public service delivery, Nandan Nilekani, chairperson of the Unique Identification Authority of India, was confronted by a small crowd of students and researchers from the Indian Institute of Science and the National Institute of Advanced Studies carrying placards declaring their opposition to the project.
NAY-SAYERS: Students of the Indian Institute of Science and the National Institute of Advanced Studies declaring their opposition to the Aadhaar project during Nandan Nilekani's speech in Bangalore on Friday. — Photo: K. Gopinathan
Students demanded that the chairperson of the ambitious project extend the question-and-answer session to hear their points of view and participate in a public debate. Mr. Nilekani stayed on to field questions on topics ranging from violation of privacy and civil liberties and security of the database, to the projected social benefits of the scheme.
“The Public Distribution System (PDS) has been implemented effectively in some States. It does not need a technological fix or reengineering as envisioned. Is this not paving the way for implementation of a Conditional Cash Distribution System?” asked a young student.
Privacy law
Conceding that concerns around privacy and security of data were valid, Mr. Nilekani said the Government was working on a draft privacy law to ensure that the requisite checks and balances are in place. On the issue of social welfare, he insisted that the Government of India was convinced that this is imperative for “financial and social inclusion”.
“Is the need of many million people greater than the misapprehensions of a few?” he asked.
He reiterated that the Aadhaar number was only a point of authentication, and therefore there is no scope for misuse by agencies that would use this number.
Reengineering services
In his talk on the benefits of Aadhaar, Mr. Nilekani said it will reengineer delivery of public services — ranging from financial services, mobile connections to the public distribution system — in coming years.
Nearly 800,000 citizens have been enrolled across the country in the first phase of this project.
Now, an Aadhaar number is sufficient to open a bank account. Currently, only 22 million people in the country have bank accounts. “When we enrol, we ask people if they want to have a bank account. The next step is to create bank accounts for all these people en masse. This is our vision for financial inclusion,” he said.
‘Government working on draft privacy law to ensure that checks and balances are in place'
Nilekani claims there is no scope for misuse of Aadhaar number by agencies that use it
“The Public Distribution System (PDS) has been implemented effectively in some States. It does not need a technological fix or reengineering as envisioned. Is this not paving the way for implementation of a Conditional Cash Distribution System?” asked a young student.
Privacy law
Conceding that concerns around privacy and security of data were valid, Mr. Nilekani said the Government was working on a draft privacy law to ensure that the requisite checks and balances are in place. On the issue of social welfare, he insisted that the Government of India was convinced that this is imperative for “financial and social inclusion”.
“Is the need of many million people greater than the misapprehensions of a few?” he asked.
He reiterated that the Aadhaar number was only a point of authentication, and therefore there is no scope for misuse by agencies that would use this number.
Reengineering services
In his talk on the benefits of Aadhaar, Mr. Nilekani said it will reengineer delivery of public services — ranging from financial services, mobile connections to the public distribution system — in coming years.
Nearly 800,000 citizens have been enrolled across the country in the first phase of this project.
Now, an Aadhaar number is sufficient to open a bank account. Currently, only 22 million people in the country have bank accounts. “When we enrol, we ask people if they want to have a bank account. The next step is to create bank accounts for all these people en masse. This is our vision for financial inclusion,” he said.
‘Government working on draft privacy law to ensure that checks and balances are in place'
Nilekani claims there is no scope for misuse of Aadhaar number by agencies that use it