1282 - UID and National Population Register - Voluntary or Mandatory? Can NATGRID Access this Database? by Venkatesh Naik

From: Venkatesh Nayak

Date: Mon, May 9, 2011 at 6:58 PM
Subject: UID and National Population Register - Voluntary or Mandatory? Can NATGRID Access this Database?

Dear all,
Last November I had sent out an email alert about the proposed National Identification Authority of India Bill (NIAI Bill). Readers may wish to refresh their memory by accessing this email alert at: http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/programs/ai/rti/india/national/2009/email_alerts/india's_uid_related_bill_designed_to_trump_the_rti_act_on_transparency_nov_26_2010.pdf  

The main point of that email alert was to caution readers about the manner in which the NIAI Bill sought to trump the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) in terms of giving access to information about people. The Bill was subsequently introduced in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) on 3rd December, 2010. According to the financial memorandum attached to the Bill, an expenditure of Rs. 3,023 crores (USD 680 million approx) may be incurred in the second phase of the scheme. An expenditure of about Rs. 147 crores (USD 33 million) has already been incurred during the first phase.  A recurring expenditure of Rs. 477 crores (USD 107 million) may be required to keep it running.

The text of the Bill is accessible on the Rajya Sabha website at:http://164.100.24.219/BillsTexts/RSBillTexts/asintroduced/national%20ident.pdf
PRS India has uploaded a summary of the Bill on its website at: http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/National%20Identification%20Authority%20Bill%20Summary.pdf

This Bill has been referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance for detailed consideration. No notices have been issued inviting people's comments on the contents of this Bill.

I am sending this email out to readers expressing three concerns:

1. Will Aadhaar numbers be voluntary or mandatory?

2. Will Aadhaar database be accessible to intelligence agencies?

3. Need for a law on data protection and privacy

These issues are discussed in the first attachment. A linked document is in the second attachment.


In order to access the our previous email alerts on RTI and related issues please click on: http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=65&Itemid=84
You will find the links at the top of this web page. If you do not wish to receive these email alerts please send an email to this address indicating your refusal.
[I have not posted this message on humjanenge@googlegroups.com. However this message may be automatically relayed through that group to unintended recipients. My apologies in advance for the inconvenience caused to such recipients.]

Thanks
Venkatesh Nayak
Programme Coordinator
Access to Information Programme
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
B-117, 1st Floor, Sarvodaya Enclave
New Delhi- 110 017
Tel: +91-11-43180215/ 43180200
Fax: +91-11-26864688
Skype: venkatesh.nayak
Website: www.humanrightsinitiative.org