2032 - Chidambaram’s note to PM on UIDAI jurisdiction

Last Updated : 27 Nov 2011 01:11:29PM IST

Home Minister P Chidambaram’s note to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on UIDAI jurisdiction

No 9/502011- CRD(NPR)

Office of the Home Minister
Ministry of Home Affairs

Subject: Comments of MHA on the convergence between UID and NPR exercises

This is with reference to the note received from the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission entitled “Next steps in rollout of Aadhaar”. I have perused the draft note prepared by the UIDAI and have examined the options suggested by you. My comments are as follows:

The decision to register all citizen and issue identity cards to them precedes the formation of the UIDAI. Legal provisions have also been put in place way back in 2003. The primary role of the UIDAI was clearly laid down as: “Generate and assign UID to residents”. It was a clear understanding that UIDAI would not do any enrolments. The enrolments were to be done only by the Registrar General, India. The UIDAI was allowed to get enrolment of 10 Crore residents done through multiple registrars up to 31st March 2012 by the Ministry of Finance (subject to post facto notification by the CC-UIDAI). This was approved as an interim measure. The convergence between the two schemes beyond 31st March 2012 (or enrolment of 20 Crore persons) is clear – the MHA is to carry out enrolment (biographic and biometrics) and the UIDAI is to carry out de-duplication and issue Aadhaar numbers. The Government has clearly laid down the procedure and the same has been scrupulously implemented by the MHA. The RGI is fully adhering to all the processes and technology prescribed by the UIDA as far as the biometric enrolment is concerned – the software used for the biometric enrolment is supplied by the UIDAI; the biometric devices used in NPR are procured from the OEM certified by the UIDAI; the devices are operated by operators, who are duly enrolled with UIDAI and who have taken the tests, prescribed by them. Thus, as far as biometric enrolment is concerned, the NPR is fully aligned with the UIDAI standards, processes and technology. The MHA has strictly limited itself to the role envisaged and mandated by the Government overlap has not occurred on account of any action of the MHA.

Demographic and biometric data cannot be accepted in NPR if the statutory procedures have not been followed. The RGI or MHA does not have the competence to all procedure or to accept any data that is in violation of the procedures laid down. This is consistent stand of the RGI and the MHA. I would like to recount the salient features of NPR:

• It is mandatory to Register every citizen and issue an identity card as per Section 14A of the Citizenship Act 1955.

• The RGI is designed to act as the National Registration Authority and function as the Registrar General of Citizens Registration as per Section 14 A (3) of the aforesaid Act.

• Section 14A (5) provides that the procedure to be followed shall be as prescribed.

• Power has been given to NRA to issue guidelines under Rule 18 of the Citizenship Rules 2003.

• The Central Government has been given the power to decide a date by which the population Regist3er shall be prepared as per rule 3(4).

• Accordingly, the intention of the Government to prepare a National Population Register was notified on 15th March 2010.

• Guidelines have also been issued for creation of the NPR and derive the NRIC after verification of citizenship status as and when required after obtaining the approval of the Union Cabinet.

• The process to be followed for creation of the NPR has also been laid down in these guidelines.

• Contents of these Registers are to be decided by the Central Government in consultation with the RGCR (Rule 3 (2)).The guidelines as approved by the Government include the collection of 15 items of demographic information and 3 items of biometric information.

The legally prescribed process is being followed without any dilution by the MHA. I have made it clear to you in my previous discussion on 05.09.2011 that it is the prerogative of the Government alone to alter the process. The MHA cannot take any view that is contrary to the process laid down by the Government.
I have noted your suggestion that appropriate changes in the rules can be made in consultation with the AG, which would allow acceptance of UIDAI collected data in the NPR. In this context, I would like to point out that the NPR project has been conceived by the MHA based on its appreciation of the international security situation in the country. The processes of the NPR has been carefully devised after considerable deliberations at the level of an Empowered Group of Ministers, pilot trials, consultations with the States, advice of other ministries (including the Ministry of Law, Planning Commission and UIDAI) and the approval of the competent authority has been obtained after following all processes laid down. The data collected by multiple registrars of the UIDAI does not meet the degree of assurance required under the NPR from the point of view of internal security. Hence, it is not a question of changing the procedure alone, the suitability of the data collected by other registrars of the UIDAI for the NPR in the light of the assurance level required for internal security must also be kept in mind.

The UIDAI process of enrolment is based on production of documents and, in the absence of documents, through an introducer based mechanism. It was due to the fact that document based systems are not feasible in rural areas especially among the poor, illiterate, landless and women, that the NPR process of house-to-house enumeration and capture of biometrics in the presence of enumerators/government officials, social vetting by publication, and placing before the local bodies was conceived. If the UIDAI process is to be introduced in NPR, it would lead to large scale exclusions. The possibility of inclusion of non-usual residents in the local register and the creation of false identity profiles is also real. This would defeat the purpose of the creation of NPR. There are also a number of legal, technical and practical issues that makes it difficult to accept data collected by other registrars.

The suggestion that the NPR exercise may be completed without capturing of biometric data is unacceptable. Biometric data – fingerprint and photograph was a part of the pilot project on MNIC. This was also a part of the coastal NPR project approved by the Government in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks. The Government has approved the collection of 3 biometrics: 10 fingerprints, photograph and the Iris as part of the NPR project. Following this decision, MHA has gone far ahead and finalized all arrangements to complete biographic and biometric enrolments by December 2012. The current status of the NPR project is as follows:-

Work orders for data entry, biometric capture and printing of draft Local Register of Usual Residents (LRUR) for a population of 57 crore persons have already been placed on service providers. As on date, data entry of 23 crore persons and biometric enrolment of 67 lakh persons has been completed. For the balance population of 64 crore persons, bids have been received and processed. Work orders will be issued in next few days. The MHA has drawn up plan to complete the entire exercise by 31st December 2012.

I had also sent a note to you on 19.06.2009 regarding the address of the Hon’ble President of India to the Parliament on the subject of issuance of identity card. The MoS (Home) and I have assured in Parliament and outside that the MHA would issue biometric (smart) cards to usual residents (Resident Identity Cards) in the country as a measure to enhance the capability of the enforcement agencies to maintain internal security. Biometrics would be required for these cards also. Proposals have already been submitted by the MHA for appraisal of the EFC in this regard. In these circumstances, completing the NPR without biometrics is not feasible.

The third suggestion that UIDAI continue enrolment without funding will not address the needs of either the NPR or the UIDAI.

As regards the option to stop enrolment by non RGI registrars beyond 10 crore enrolments through a multi-registrar model, I am to state that this was the considered opinion of the Cabinet. I have noted your concern that in this case the roll out of Aadhaar numbers will depend entirely upon the pace at which the MHA can supply data to the UIDAI and that this would lead to delay in the use of Aadhaar as a platform for delivery of government schemes. In this connection I would like to stress that the prime responsibility of time bound creation of NPR is with the State Governments. The MHA would assist the State Governments in this regard. The MHA has already taken action to complete the entire exercise by December, 2012. This is much earlier than the time frame envisaged by the UIDAI who has proposed to cover the entire country by 2017. Even assuming there are slippages, the data would be available much before 2017.

I would like to reiterate that the NPR is mandatory and a legal obligation. It is a security imperative and the State/UT Governments are duty bound to create it. Lack of clarity on this issue has created confusion in the states. This has also attracted adverse mention in the recently concluded meeting of the National Development Council, besides being widely debated in the media. An expenditure of approximately Rs.1800 crores has already been incurred on the NPR project. A further expenditure of Rs.2400 crores is in the pipeline. If we also take into account the expenditure incurred on the coastal NPR project, MNIC pilot projects and other preparatory steps taken from 2003 onwards, the expenditure has been substantial. Keeping in mind the internal security scenario a quick ramp up and completion of the NPR at the earliest is necessary.

I would also like to point out that the MHA has formulated proposals for issue of identity (smart) cards for the appraisal of the EFC. Proposals are also being formulated for the setting up a nationwide system for continuously updating and maintaining the NPR database. These are two essential components of the NPR system. The `in principle’ approval of the Planning Commission is required for both these proposals. The NPR would have no meaning if these two vital elements are not put in place. I request you to kindly expedite the approval for these proposals.

2031 - Modi govt says food Bill against federal structure - Indian Express

Ravish Tiwari Posted: Mon Nov 28 2011, 02:13 hrs New Delhi:

Having publicly objected to the Communal Violence Bill drafted by the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC), the Narendra Modi-led Gujarat government has now sent its strong objections to Sonia’s pet project, National Food Security Bill, terming it against the sanctity of the federal structure of the Constitution.

Gujarat has objected to provisions that allow the Centre to prescribe terms and conditions for the appointment of district grievance redressal officers, empowers it with rule-making powers and gives the Centre the power to direct the state governments. It asserted that “such provisions are tantamount to undermining the federal structure of our Constitution and also imply mistrust of the state government”.

Registering its protest against the food Bill, the Modi government has told the Central government that while “creating legal entitlements may be easy”, the country “needs to reassess the culture of government subsidies and doles” under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who had “initiated the process of liberalisation in 1990s”.

2030 - Term over, experience gained, bulk of private sector team quits Aadhar - Express India

Chinki Sinha,Chinki Sinha

Posted: Nov 29, 2011 at 0000 hrs IST

New Delhi The Harvard graduate has left. So has the executive who had graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and left a “lucrative banking career” to serve the nation. One will join a startup, the other will start a business. Many others have left for other jobs or for studies abroad, leveraging their UIDAI experience.

The Unique Identification Authority of India, under the chairmanship of Nandan Nilekani, was marked by the first-ever attempt at a setup where the private and public sectors would work together on its project to give every Indian an identity, an Aadhar number. The idea was to combine the “efficiency” of the private sector with government officials’ “knowledge of the system”.

Now, the bulk of those in the non-salaried groups — volunteers and sabbatical workers — have left, as data from the UIDAI show (see box). Officials say many of them left because their term had ended. Not many volunteers or sabbatical staff have since joined, but officials say some more have joined in the salaried category.

Among volunteers who have left is Nilekani’s senior at IIT Bombay, Raj Mashruwala, who had sent him a congratulatory note offering to help him. Only a handful have extended their terms, including Govindraj Ethiraj, a journalist and TV anchor who is a sabbatical worker and writing a book on UIDAI.

The model

“The model was flawed as nobody will work for too long without being paid,” a UIDAI official said. “Goodwill and the temptation of having UIDAI on their resumes brought in a lot of private sector people but they didn’t understand the system. They saw it as a means to enter the government laterally.”

At the PMU (project management unit), private sector employees are hired with salary by the National Institute of Smart Government with which the UIDAI has an agreement.

Several new people have been hired, UIDAI deputy director general Kumar Alok said. “They come and go. We receive many applications as the project has great visibility in terms of being the largest national identity project ever implemented,” he said.

‘Too many controls’

One sabbatical worker said he travelled often to make presentations on Aadhaar and interact with communities to understand their needs. He had wanted to give back to the community, he said, but over the last few months, the energy that he had felt in the organisation began to ebb because of too many controls. Many things, he said, got mired in the bureaucratic processes. 

Reimbursements were delayed, travel plans were stalled because of numerous permissions to be sought on paper, not just by emails. Government officials’ response was that they had to keep accounts.

The system

Over the past few months, the government has introduced new guidelines specifying the term of the contract has to be a minimum one year for volunteers and sabbatical resources, said Awadhesh Kumar Pandey, assistant director general.

Initially, there was friction between government and private sector members who couldn’t reconcile with the government’s way of working, its hierarchies and its formal setup. “We introduced brainstorming sessions and made them work together on issues like RTI queries so they could iron out their issues,” Pandey said.

“It is a government project and the two sides needed to understand each other,” Pandey said. Director general R S Sharma too said it is a government project and “government shall exercise control.”

One official said travel bills started mounting. The UIDAI, which apparently hadn’t made it clear that only Air India flights’ fares would be reimbursed, refused to pay outstanding fares on other airlines.

“Suddenly, we saw people were travelling too much. They would have breakfast in Jaipur, dinner in Udaipur, and the next morning they would be Bangalore. These were mostly private sector people,” an official said.

Many from the private sector said they liked being part of a national project under Nilekani but a few said they were unable to work the way they would have liked. The UIDAI says the initial issues have been resolved and the project is on target.

Leverage

“Those who left had come with a purpose. They pumped up their resumes with the UIDAI experience of working on a complex data management system, and then left when an opportunity came their way. We have recruited others,” the government official said. “They discovered they couldn’t have everything their way and there was a system in place they had to follow, and they left.”

2029 - Bengaluru Aadhaar operators violating privacy

UID REGISTRATION

Bengaluru Aadhaar operators violating privacy

People wanting to register for Aadhaar are not being asked if they want to share their personal information. The box is checked without their consent.

By Yogaraj S Mudalgi

28 Nov 2011, Citizen Matters

Citizens enrolling for Aadhaar (UID) card might be unwittingly sharing personal information with third party organisations in the near future. A key step of the enrollment process, is for data operators to ask for consent of the enrollees on whether they would like their personal information to be shared. However, the consent is not being asked for. This was observed at the enrollment centre in Jakkasandra Government School, Koramangala.

Srinivas Reddy and Anjali Devi, just after their enrolment. Pic: Yogaraj S Mudalgi

Apoorva L J, Audit Manager for Wipro which is the enrollment agency, says that the particular centre is new and the inexperienced data operators might have missed out on the steps. He said that he was unaware that this was not being done. "Most centres do it now. We stress this when we visit all centres for inspection. We will rectify this at the Jakkasandra centre," he says.

Srinivas Reddy, 48, a police head constable living in the quarters nearby had been waiting in line along with his wife Anjali Devi from 9 30 in the morning. "Our photograph and biometric collection was completed by 1 pm and went smoothly. We heard that it will be of use in the future so we are getting in done," said Anjali Devi.

Margaret, 32, a resident of Jakkasandra, who had come for the enrollment said that she was unaware that there was a provision for sharing information, let alone asking for her consent. "I don't really want any of my personal details to be shared with anyone," she said.

Following is an extract from the Resident Enrollment Manual found on the UID website:
Detailed Guidelines for Recording Demographic Data  Section 12. Information sharing Consent (mandatory):

1. Ask Resident‘s consent to whether it is alright with the resident if the information captured is shared with other organisations for the purpose of welfare services including financial services. Select appropriate circle to capture resident‘s response as -Yes/No

The manual states that consent taking is mandatory but remains ambiguous on the whether the organisations are government agencies or private companies. Mails to Nanadan Nilekani, Chairman of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and Srikanth Nadhamuni, Head of Technology at UIDAI, did not elicit any response.

If you have enrolled in the last 48 hours and you did not consent for information sharing, you can still get the correction. Please visit the place where you were enrolled with the acknowledgement letter and you can request for a correction. Please note, corrections of details can be made only once.

⊕

Yogaraj S Mudalgi

28 Nov 2011

Yogaraj Mudalgi is Associate Staff Journalist at Citizen Matters.

2028 - NAC Opposed Cash Transfer Replacing PDS - Counter Currents

By Pradeep Baisakh & Aruna Roy

28 November, 2011
Countercurrents.org

Magsaysay award winner Ms Aruna Roy has been the member of National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by the UPA Chairperson Ms Sonia Gandhi in both of its Avtars and has influenced several social policies of the country. Ms Roy, also the founder member of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), a people's organisation in Rajasthan recently visited to the proposed POSCO area in Jagatsingpur district in Odisha to observe the protest of people against the land acquisition there. Speaking to Pradeep Baisakh , she shares her observation on POSCO issue, on Land Acquisition Bill, on National Food security Bill and on the performance of MGNREGA in Odisha

You recently visited proposed POSCO area in Jagatsingpur district of Odisha. Please share with us your observation.

Aruna Roy: The villagers in Dhinkia are completely opposed to the project, and are unwilling to give up any of their personal, or community land. Attempts by the state government for land acquisition are being made in a legal vacuum, as the MoU of the government with POSCO has been lapsed. This makes this forcible land acquisition morally and legally unjustified.

People's democratic voices shouldn't be crushed. People's consent is a must for establishing any industrial project. This is even more important in the context of the proposed new Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation legislation.

Thousands of trees are being felled by the district administration when the project does not legally exist (MoU is yet to be renewed). How far is this defensible?

Aruna Roy: Exactly that we have to say that now there is no legal ground. Reportedly, several thousand trees approximately 40-50,000 trees have already been chopped by the administration. 

The government is planning to cut lakhs trees like Casurina casuarinas, Jackfruit, Cashew nut and Mangroves. This tree cutting activities will leave the area exposed to cyclones and other environmental disasters in an area with a very sensitive ecology. Felling of trees is completely unacceptable.

We also have observed that people there want to work but there is no Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in the area. MGNREGA has to function as this is the right of every individual. No matter what for the people of Dhinkia have protested, it's still a part of India and people of the Panchayat are citizen of this country.

The Panchayat premises occupied by the police should be vacated. We also have said that the Sarpanch of Dhinkia panchayat, who has been suspended by the state government, should be reinstated. He cannot be suspended for what law requires him to do i.e. for holding Palli Sabhas (General body of the village). This is not a constitutional violation of any sort and this is not corruption.

National Food Security bill does not say about universal PDS. Even the draft recommended by the NAC does not guarantee universal food security despite the people like you, Jean Dreze (Now is no more a member of NAC) and Harsh Mander being the members of NAC?

Aruna Roy: The NAC draft says about 90% coverage. Actually universal PDS is something we all demanded, but somehow in the process of negotiation with the GoI, it got whittled down. This was one of the most painful processes and it has been very difficult to convince government.

The government actually did not look it as the right to food and health issue of people but from the point of view of problems in storage and procurement and from financial point of views. The government bill is quite disappointing and has taken away some of the vital recommendations of NAC e.g. the grievance redressal mechanism. 

They are for putting in UID and cash transfer in it, two things that NAC totally opposed because they are very dangerous. Recently Jean Dreze and Reetika Khera did a survey and came out with the fact that PDS is doing very well in Odisha and shown signs of revival in other states too. This shows that the system as it is can function.

What's your position on introduction of fortified food? Does not it lead to corporatisation of PDS?

Aruna Roy: It is totally unacceptable. What may be the fortified food and its new definition; you have enough nutritious food in the villages which will cater to the needs of the malnourished children. What's necessary is cooking is done and hot meal is provided. And that is the most important thing.

How do you react to the Supreme Court observation that the current Land Acquisition Law should rather be thrown away?

Aruna Roy: A new land acquisition law is coming which will replace the existing law. We have suggested that the first test of the land acquisition bill and the discussion should take place in Dhinkia Panchayat, because people have been displaced from there. All that is suggesting should now be tested in action. We suggest that there should be public hearing in Dhinkia itself on the project.

You have favoured a direct negotiation by the private corporate with people and acquire land in the new land acquisition law. Do not you think there is risk of people being intimidated and cheated in the process?

Aruna Roy: Now there are so much of private investments coming, if government acquires land for them, then it will go into that business. By effect something like Singur and Nadigram will be repeated. It should limit itself acquiring land for projects which serve public purpose e.g. for government offices, schools, hospitals.

If the government acquires land for the privates, then there will be creation of land bank like in Tamil Nadu and in Karnataka. And when the land bank is traded off, the person who is dispossessed of the land gets very little money than what profits are made there after. So it becomes a business. At one level it's much more difficult for people to oppose the government than to the private industries. The government should rather play the role of a regulator in such cases. It should regulate that no land is acquired below some market price, that anyone displaced in this process should get all rights covered by the Resettlement & Rehabilitation policies or laws.

You must be aware that CBI inquiry is going on in six districts of Odisha on the allegations of corruption in MGNREGA. So much of money is flushed under MGNREA to the state which is siphoned off and distressed migration in the KBK region and beyond is actually on the rise. Is it not wastage of public money when the state government is apathetic toward its implementation?

Aruna Roy: You cannot extrapolate the Odisha experience to the whole country. I think it's the administrative failure that people are not applying for work, people are not getting jobs in time. And if you do not receive application in time and you do not give wages in time, then people will go out looking for work. I really do think that there is a conspiracy in the government in general against NREGA because you cannot siphon off money as easily as you can do in other welfare works. If you look at other rural development work those have come to us, you cannot know where and how crores of money is being siphoned off. MGNREGA is the first programme that tells that the money is siphoned off. It is because NRGEA has made mandatory that the transparency and accountability is put into system.

Especially in the areas where there are Maoist influences or suspected Maoist influences it is more than necessary that this programme functions properly to bring in basic needs to the people and ensure that there is peace. Right to food and right to 100 days employment are guarantees against starvation and deaths.

What suggestion do you have for the Odisha government to improve the performance of MGNREGA?

Aruna Roy: I met the Chief Minister about three years ago. I made a presentation on the operation of NREGA in Rajsthan. I said if you paint the basic information of NREGA on walls, like how many job cards issued, and how many people have been given how much money –so translating the MIS to what we call it as JIS-Janata Information System. So you put it on wall, people will take care of it.

Secondly, work must be given in fifteen days time and give unemployment allowance in case of default. For making this work you need political will from the Chief Minister and bureaucratic will from the Chief Secretary and the Secretary from Principal Secretary, Rural Development. Unless you have a trigger of a dated acknowledgement receipt, followed by work and payment, things will not happen. It also means improving your MIS system, whether it means improving the system of payment, it must be done.

And I think any government that neglects NREGA that does with its own risk. So much money that comes in and this money it will provide even political benefit. But to neglect it, in my opinion, is not only a tragedy for the people but also it is dangerous for both administrative and political system.

Do you basically tell that political and administrative will in the state is lacking on issues relating to implementation of MGNREGA?

Aruna Roy: Well, It seems so.

You are the member of NAC in both of its avtars . Do you think that Ms Gandhi and the central government are using NAC as a ‘safety valve' to manage the rising discontent of people owing to the kind of public (economic) policies being pursued which has widened the gap between the haves and the have-nots?

Aruna Roy: I do not believe in horoscopes. So I cannot predict nor can I read. As an activist we ask and demand for many things. If in the first NAC there had been no common minimum programme which made the commitment to the people of India and for the first time after 25 years poor and issues of poor surfaced in the political discourse. Now, whatever may be the reason for their putting on this, for people like us its important to grab whatever space we have, catch them on their commitment and make them implement it. The NREGA, the RTI, the forest rights bill and the domestic violence bill all came out of it.

There is some polarity on what the government wants and what social policies demands. It which case, it should be boosted by our public demand. 

Ultimately if we believe violent revolution, then it's different matter. But if people want peaceful change, then we are also limited in the arenas in which we can get it. We have to make wider push as much as we can in whatever space we get. So those of us who have worked in this space that is provided have tried to push the system.

Pradeep Baisakh is a Freelance Journalist based in Bhubaneswar . He has extensively written on transparency law, right to work and food, environment issues, industrialisation and development, women, tribal rights etc. He can be contacted through e mail: 2006pradeep@gmail.com .

2027 - Mizos shun voters' lists in fear of Bibilical Beast - TOI

TNN | Nov 28, 2011, 03.43PM IST

AIZAWLl: The fear of the Biblical Beast still haunts some people in the Christian-dominated northeastern state of Mizoram and this is posing as a hurdle for election officials who are trying to draw up accurate voters' lists.

As many as 221 voters of Serlui assembly constituency along the Mizoram-Assam border in Kolasib district decided to forsake their rights to franchise for fear of bearing the mark or the number of the Beast or Satan. The number of Satan, who is also called the Prince of Darkness, is 666.

These people appealed to election officials to delete their names from the electoral rolls during the ongoing summary revision of voters' lists. "The names of 221 voters, including 104 women, have been deleted from the voters' lists after their pleas," an election official said, adding majority of the people were from Vairengte town near Assam border.

The fear stems from the Bible's Book of Revelation, which says, "That no man might buy or sell save he that had the mark or the name of the Beast or the number of his name."

The people, whose devotion to religion borders on bigotry, firmly believe that they will be damned if they are identified or marked with the number of the Beast and will go to hell.

What these people actually fear, according to the election officials, is the Unique Identification (UID) process and the preparation of voters' list was mistaken for the UID exercise.

"Even after we explained to them that it is the constitutional duty of citizens to have voting rights, we failed to persuade them to be re-enrolled in the voters' lists," said an official.

These people are not wary any possible negative consequences they might have to face for refusing to be included in the voters' lists but they live in mortal fear of being marked by the number of the Beast or Satan due to their strong beliefs.

It may be recalled that around 1,000 families, including those in the remotest parts, refused to enroll their names in the Census 2011. While many of these people belonged to various small religious sects, members of the largest churches - the Presbyterian Church and the Baptist Church - were no exception.

Many of them relented after being persuaded by both the government and the churches, but this time around, some people are still skeptical, the officials discovered.

2026 - देशवासियों को निराधार करती आधार परियोजना - गोपाल कृष्ण

देशवासियों को निराधार करती आधार परियोजना

समयांतर , नवम्बर, २०११ 

हर भारतवासी  को एक विशिष्ट पहचान (यू.आई.डी.)/आधार अंक आवंटित करने की जो योजना शुरू कर दी गई है, वह और कुछ नहीं, बल्कि देशवासियों के निजी जीवन पर एक तरह का हमला है जिसे नागरिक स्वतंत्रता और मानवाधिकार के हनन के रूप में ही समझा जा सकता है, जिस समय ब्रिटेन की नई साझा सरकार ने संसद में वहां के पहचानपत्र कानून 2006 को समाप्त करने के लिए प्रस्ताव लाने का फैसला किया है, ठीक उसी समय भारत सरकार ने विशिष्ट पहचान अंक (यू.आई.डी./आधार परियोजना) को हरी झंडी दे दी। एक तरफ भारत सरकार यह दावा कर रही है कि यह परियोजना शारीरिक हस्ताक्षर या जैवमापन (बायोमेट्रिक्स) को देशवासियों और नागरिक जीवन पर लागू करने की परियोजना है, वहीं दूसरी तरफ वह अपनी रिपोर्ट में संयुक्त राष्ट्र अमेरिका के आंतरिक सुरक्षा मंत्रालय द्वारा अंतर्राष्ट्रीय जैवमापक समूह को दी गई रिपोर्ट का हवाला देती है। दोनों बातों में भला क्या संबंध हो सकता है? यह योजना  गाड़ियो और जानवरों पर भी लागु होने जा रही है, जो परत दर परत सामने आ रहा है. यह परियोजना १४ विकासशील देशो में संयुक्त राष्ट्र अमेरिका की कंपनियों और विश्व बैंक के जरिये लागु किया जा रहा है. दक्षिण एशिया में यह पाकिस्तान में लागु हो चुक है और नेपाल और बंगलादेश में लागु किया जा रहा है  

भारत में इस बात पर कम ध्यान दिया गया है कि कैसे विराट स्तर पर सूचनाओं को संगठित करने की धारणा चुपचाप सामाजिक नियंत्रण, युद्ध के उपकरण और जातीय समूहों को निशाना बनाने और प्रताड़ित करने के हथियार के रूप में विकसित हुई है। भारत की दूसरे नंबर की सबसे बड़ी साफ्टवेयर कंपनी इन्फोसिस  टेक्नोलाजीज इंडिया लिमिटेड के सह-संस्थापक और सीईओ नंदन निलेकानी ने सरकार को यह यकीन दिलाने में सफलता पाई है कि 48 फीसदी निरक्षता वाले देश भारत के निर्धनतम लोगों तक पहुंचने में 12 अंकों वाला कार्ड सहायक होगा। विशिष्ट पहचान प्राधिकरण, 2009 के निर्माण से अस्तित्व में आई यू.आई.डी./आधार परियोजना जनवरी 1933 (जब हिटलर सत्तारूढ़ हुआ) से लेकर दूसरे विश्वयुद्ध और उसके बाद के दौर की याद ताजा कर देती है। जिस तरह इंटरनेशनल बिजनेस मशीन्स (आई.बी.एम.) नाम की दुनिया की सबसे बड़ी टेक्नॉलाजी कम्पनी ने नाजियों के साथ मिलकर यहूदियों की संपत्तियों को हथियाने, उन्हें नारकीय बस्तियों में महदूद कर देने, उन्हें देश से भगाने और आखिरकार उनके सफाए के लिए पंच-कार्ड  (कम्प्यूटर का पूर्व रूप) और इन कार्डो के माध्यम से जनसंख्या के वर्गीकरण की प्रणाली के जरिए यहूदियों की निशानदेही की, उसने मानवीय विनाश के मशीनीकरण को सम्भव बनाया। यह एक ऐतिहासिक तथ्य है।

खासतौर पर जर्मनी और आमतौर पर यूरोप के अनुभवों को नजरअंदाज करके, निशानदेही के तर्क को आगे बढ़ाते हुए वित्तमंत्री ने 2010-2011 का बजट संसद में पेश करते हुए फर्माया कि यू.आई.डी. परियोजना वित्तीय योजनाओं को समावेशी बनाने और सरकारी सहायता (सब्सिडी) जरूरतमंदों तक ही पहुंचाने के लिए उनकी निशानदेही करने का मजबूत मंच प्रदान करेगी। जबकि यह बात दिन के उजाले की तरह साफ है कि निशानदेही के यही औजाद बदले की भावना से किन्हीं खास धर्मो, जातियों, क्षेत्रों, जातीयताओं या आर्थिक रूप से असंतुष्ट तबकों के खिलाफ  भी इस्तेमाल में लाए जा सकते हैं। आश्चर्य है कि आधार परियोजना के प्रमुख यानी वित्त मंत्री ने वित्तीय समावेशन की तो बात की, लेकिन गरीबों के आर्थिक समावेशन की नहीं। भारत में राजनीतिक कारणों से समाज के कुछ तबकों का अपवर्जन लक्ष्य करके उन तबकों के जनसंहार का कारण बना- 1947 में, 1984 में और सन् 2002 में। अगर एक समग्र अन्तः आनुशासनिक अध्ययन कराया  जाए तो उससे साफ हो जाएगा कि किस तरह निजी जानकारियां और आंकड़े जिन्हें सुरक्षित रखा जाना चाहिए था, वे हमारे देश में दंगाइयों और जनसंहार रचाने वालों को आसानी से उपलब्ध थे।

भारत सरकार भविष्य की कोई गारंटी नहीं दे सकती। अगर नाजियों जैसा कोई दल सत्तारूढ़ होता है तो क्या गारंटी है कि यू.आई.डी. के आंकड़े उसे प्राप्त नहीं होंगे और वह बदले की भावना से उनका इस्तेमाल नागरिकों के किसी खास तबके के खिलाफ नहीं करेगा? दरअसल यही जनवरी 1933 से जनवरी 2009 तक के निशानदेही के प्रयासों का सफरनामा है। यू.आई.डी. और राष्ट्रीय जनसंख्या रजिस्टर वही सब कुछ दोहराने का मंच है जो जर्मनी, रूमानिया, यूरोप और अन्य जगहों पर हुआ जहां वह जनगणना से लेकर नाजियों को यहूदियों की सूची प्रदान करने का माध्यम बना। यू.आई.डी. का नागरिकता से कोई संबंध नहीं है, वह महज निशानदेही का साधन है। इस पृष्ठभूमि में, हम जिम्मेदार नागरिकों के बतौर ब्रिटेन की नई साझा सरकार द्वारा विवादास्पद राष्ट्रीय पहचानपत्र योजना को समाप्त करने के निर्णय का स्वागत करते हैं ताकि नागरिकों की निजी जिंदगियों में हस्तक्षेप से उनकी सुरक्षा हो सके। ब्रिटेन की पहचानपत्र परियोजना को अगले 3-4 महीनों में समाप्त किया जाना है। पहचानपत्र कानून 2006 और स्कूलों में बच्चों की उंगलियों के निशान लिए जाने की प्रथा का खात्मा करने के साथ-साथ ब्रिटेन सरकार अपना राष्ट्रीय पहचानपत्र रजिस्टर बंद कर देगी। अगली पीढ़ी के जैवसांख्यिकीय पासपोर्ट, सम्पर्क-बिन्दुओं पर इकट्ठा किये जाने वाले आंकड़ों तथा इंटरनेट और ई-मेल के रिकार्ड का भंडारण खत्म किया जाएगा।

आधार या यू.आई.डी. परियोजना लगभग वही करने जा रही है जो कि हिटलर के सत्तारूढ़ होने से पहले के जर्मन सत्ताधारियों ने किया, अन्यथा यह कैसे सम्भव था कि यहूदी नामों की सूची नाजियों के आने से पहले भी जर्मन सरकार के पास रहा करती थी? नाजियों ने यह सूची आई.बी.एम. कम्पनी से प्राप्त की जो कि जनगणना के व्यवसाय में पहले से थी। यह जनगणना नस्लों के आधार पर भी की गई थी जिसके चलते न केवल यहूदियों की गिनती, बल्कि उनकी निशानदेही सुनिश्चित हो सकी, वाशिंगटन डी.सी. स्थित अमेरिका के होलोकास्ट म्युजियम (विभीषिका संग्रहालय) में आई.बी.एम. की होलोरिथ डी-11 कार्ड सार्टिग मशीन आज भी प्रदर्शित है जिसके जरिए 1933 की जनगणना में यहूदियों की पहले-पहल निशानदेही की गई थी।

लेकिन ब्रिटेन सरकार के विपरीत भारत सरकार ने पिछले साल 18 मई की प्रेस विज्ञप्ति में बताया था कि कैबिनेट कमेटी ने भारतीय विशिष्ट पहचान प्राधिकरण द्वारा निवासियों के जनसांख्यिकीय और जैवसांख्किीय आंकड़ों को इकट्ठा करने की जो पद्धति सुझाई गई है, उसे सिद्धांततः स्वीकार कर लिया है। इसमें चेहरे, नेत्रगोलक (पारितारिका) की तस्वीर लेने और सभी दस उंगलियों के निशान लेने का प्रावधान है। इसमें 5 से 15 आयुवर्ग के बच्चों के नेत्रगोलक के आंकड़े इकट्ठा करना शामिल है। इन्हीं मानकों और प्रक्रियाओं को जनगणना के लिए रजिस्ट्रार जनरल आफ इंडिया और यू.आई.डी. व्यवस्था के अन्य रजिस्ट्रारों को भी अपनाना पड़ेगा।

आश्चर्य नहीं कि इन प्रयासों के खिलाफ चल रहे लोकतांत्रिक आंदोलनों के प्रति सरकार अनभिज्ञता का स्वांग कर रही है। जिसे ब्रिटेन में नकार दिया गया, उसे भारत में भी नकारे जाने के प्रबल आधार हैं। यू.आई.डी. परियोजना नागरिक स्वतंत्रताओं में भीषण दखलंदाजी और कटौती करती है। नागरिकों की पहचान का जो रास्ता सरकार अपना रही है उसका आधार सन् 2000 में पारित सूचना तकनीक कानून है जिसे पारित करते समय नागरिकों के निजी जीवन के तथ्यों की सुरक्षा का कोई प्रावधान नहीं किया गया था।

भारत की यू.आई.डी. परियोजना की ही तरह ब्रिटेन में भी इसका कभी कोई उद्देश्य बताया जाता था, कभी कोई। इस परियोजना को गरीबों के नाम पर थोपा जा रहा है। कहा जा रहा है कि पहचान का मसला राशन कार्ड, ड्राइविंग लाइसेंस, पासपोर्ट, बैंक खाता, मोबाइल कनेक्शन आदि लेने में अवरोध उत्पन्न करता है। पहचान अंक पत्र गरीब नागरिकों को शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य और वित्तीय सेवाओं सहित अनेक संसाधन प्राप्त करने योग्य बनाएगा। ब्रिटेन की बदनाम हो चुकी परियोजना के पदचिन्हों पर चलते हुए यह भी कहा जा रहा है कि पहचान अंकपत्र से बच्चों को स्कूल में दाखिले में मदद मिलेगी। ब्रिटेन सरकार के हाल के निर्णय के बाद कहीं भारत में भी इस परियोजना को तिलांजलि न दे देनी पड़े, इस बात की आशंका के चलते अब सरकार के द्वारा कहा जा रहा है कि यू.आई.डी. अंक वैकल्पिक है अनिवार्य नहीं।

यू.आई.डी. से जुड़ी है राष्ट्रीय जनसंख्या रजिस्टर (एन.पी.आर.) की परियोजना। यह पहली बार है कि ऐसी रिपोर्ट बनाई जा रही है। इसके जरिए रजिस्ट्रार जनरल आफ इंडिया आंकड़ों का भंडार तैयार करेंगे। यह समझ लेना होगा कि जनगणना और राष्ट्रीय जनसंख्या रजिस्टर अलग-अलग चीजें हैं। जनगणना जनसंख्या, साक्षरता, शिखा, आवास और घरेलू सुविधाओं, आर्थिक गतिविधि, शहरीकरण, प्रजनन दर, मृत्युदर, भाषा, धर्म और प्रवासन आदि के संबंध में बुनियादी आंकड़ों का सबसे बड़ा स्रोत है जिसके आधार पर केंद्र व राज्य सरकारें योजनाएं बनती हैं और नीतियों का क्रियान्वयन करती हैं, जबकि राष्ट्रीय जनसंख्या रजिस्टर पूरे देश के नागरिकों के पहचान संबंधी आंकड़ों का समग्र भंडार तैयार करने का काम करेगा। इसके तहत व्यक्ति का नाम, उसके माता, पिता, पति/पत्नी का नाम, लिंग, जन्मस्थान और तारीख, वर्तमान वैवाहिक स्थिति, शिक्षा, राष्टीयता, पेशा, वर्तमान और स्थायी निवास का पता जैसी तमाम सूचनाओं का संग्रह किया जाएगा। इस आंकड़ा-भंडार में 15 साल की उम्र से उपर सभी व्यक्तियों की तस्वीरें और उनकी उंगलियों के निशान भी रखे जाएंगे।

राष्ट्रीय जनसंख्या रजिस्टर के आंकड़ो-भंडार को अंतिम रूप देने के बाद, अगला कार्यभार होगा हर नागरिक को विशिष्ट पहचान अंक प्रदान करना। यह अंक इसके बाद राष्ट्रीय जनसंख्या रजिस्टर में टांकें जांएगे। प्रस्तावित यह है कि पहचानपत्र एक तरह का स्मार्ट-कार्ड होगा जिसके उपर पहचान अंक के साथ व्यक्ति का नाम, उसके माता, पिता, पति/पत्नी का नाम, लिंग, जन्मस्थान और तारीख, फोटो आदि बुनियादी जानकारियां छपी होंगी। सम्पूर्ण विवरण का भंडारण चिप में होगा।

ब्रिटेन की ही तरह यहां भी 1.2 अरब लोगों को विशिष्ट पहचान अंक देने की कवायद को रोके जाने की जरूरत है, क्योंकि मानवाधिकार उलंघन की दृष्टि से इसके खतरे कल्पनातीत है। 12 अगस्त 2009 को विशिष्ट पहचान अंक प्राधिकरण की प्रधानमंत्री परिषद ने तय किया ब्रिटेन के पहचानपत्र कानून को 2006 (जिसे वहां खत्म किया जा रहा है) की तर्ज पर एक कानूनी ढांचा तैयार किया जाए। 13वें वित्त आयोग ने प्रति व्यक्ति 100 रूपए और प्रति परिवार 400-500 रूपए गरीब परिवारों को विशिष्ट पहचान अंक के लिए आवेदन करने हेतु प्रोत्साहन के बतौर दिए जाने का प्रावधान किया है। यह गरीबों को एक किस्म की रिश्वत ही है। इस उद्देश्य के लिए आयोग ने राज्य सरकारों को 2989.10 करोड़ की राशि मुहैया कराने की संस्तुति की है। कर्नाटक, मध्यप्रदेश और आंध्रप्रदेश ने प्राधिकरण के साथ विशिष्ट पहचान अंक के रजिस्ट्रार के बतौर राज्य-स्तरीय कमेटियों के निर्माण का करार भी कर लिया है। यह कमेटियां नागरिकों के अंगुलियों के निशान, नेत्रगोलक की छवि जैसे जैवमापक आंकड़ों का संग्रह करेंगी। क्या विधानसभाओं या संसद में कभी इस किस्म की परियोजना के परिणामों पर कोई बहस हुई है? वह भी ऐसी परियोजना जिसे ब्रिटेन में समाप्त किया जा रहा हो?

प्राधिकरण के महानिदेशक के हस्ताक्षर से जारी 29 सितम्बर 2009 के स्मारपत्र में कहा गया है कि मुख्य लक्ष्य है लाभकारी सेवाओं को, खासकर गरीबों और समाज के हाशिए पर रहनेवाले समूहों तक पहुंचाना। इस उद्देश्य को पाने के लिए प्राधिकरण प्रस्तावित करता है कि पहले एक ऐसे मंच का गठन हो जो पहचान संबंधी ब्योरे जुटाए, फिर उनकी प्रमाणिकता की जांच करे ताकि विभिन्न सरकारें और निजी क्षेत्र के सेवा-प्रदायक इनका इस्तेमाल कर सकें। निजी क्षेत्र के सेवा प्रदायकों का संदर्भ समझ से परे है क्योंकि इसका उद्देश्य सार्वजनिक, वह भी गरीबों और हाशिये के समूहों को फायदा पहुंचाना बताया गया है। इन तबकों तक सेवाओं को पहुंचाने का वादा इस बात को छिपा लेता है कि कैसे यह परियोजना संचार तकनीक उद्योग और जैवमापक उद्योग को अच्छा खासा मुनाफा पहुंचाएगी। इस तरह के दावे और वादे अगंभीर, भ्रामक और तथ्यतः गलत हैं। यह हमें भारतीय संविधान की प्रस्तावना में ली गई शपथों की याद दिलाते हैं। यह दावे हमें झूठा विश्वास दिलाते हैं कि यह परियोजना आर्थिक समानता के संवैधानिक संकल्प को पूरा करेगी। इस तरह के उद्देश्य बखानना खराब किस्म के कुतर्को की तरह है।

प्राधिकरण ने एक जैवमापन मानक समिति (बायोमेट्रिक्स स्टैंडर्डस कमिटि) का गठन किया है जो उपलब्ध मानकों की समीक्षा करेगा और उन्हें संशोधित/संवरद्धित करेगा या आगे बढ़ाएगा ताकि प्रामाणिकता और दोहराव को खत्म करने के लक्ष्य प्राप्त किए जा सकें। ऐसा वह अंगुलियों के निशान, चेहरे और नेत्रगोलक की छवि उतारने के जैवमापक मानकों को तय करने के जरिए करेगा। प्राधिकरण ने जैवमापन को व्यक्ति की भौतिक, रासायनिक और व्यवहारजन्य विशेषताओं के आधार पर उसकी पहचान नियत करने का विज्ञान बताया है। प्राधिकरण का कहना है जहां चेहरे की तस्वीर पहले से ही अनेक किस्म के पहचानपत्रों के काम में आती है, वहीं प्राधिकरण उंगलियों के निशान के साथ साथ नेत्रगोलक (परितारिका) का रिकार्ड भी पहचान के लिए रखने का प्रयास कर रहा है। दोनों ओर से आंख के श्वेतपटल और पुतली के बीच स्थित परितारिका को जैवमापन का सबसे सटीक मानक माना जाता है। समिति खुलासा करती है कि जैवमापन सेवाओं के निष्पादन के समय सरकारी विभागों और वाणिज्यिक संस्थाओं द्वारा प्रामाणिकता स्थापित करने के लिए किया जाएगा। यहां वाणिज्यिक संस्थाओं को परिभाषित नहीं किया गया है।

जैवमापन मानक समिति जैवमापन में अमेरिका और यूरोप के पिछले अनुभवों का भी हवाला देती है। एक तकनीकी उपसमिति भी बनाई गई है जिसने भारतीय उंगलियों के निशान के विश्लेषण के लिए दिल्ली, यूपी, बिहार और ड़ीसा के जिलों से पच्चीस हजार लोगों के ढाई लाख उंगलियों के निशान इकट्ठा किया जाना था। इसी तरह चेहरे और परितारिका की छवियों के 12 करोड़ नमूनों का आंकड़ा कोष भी उसे बनाना  था। यह भी संस्तुति की गई कि जैवमापक आंकड़े राष्ट्रीय निधि हैं और उन्हें उनके मौलिक रूप में संरक्षित किया जाना चाहिए। समिति नागरिकों के आंकड़ाकोष को राष्ट्रीय निधि बताती है। यह निधि कब कंपनियों की निधि बन जाएगी कहा नहीं जा सकता.   

राजनितिक दलों मे इस योजना को समझने की दिलचस्पी नहीं है. उनमे राष्ट्रीय पहचान प्राधिकरण विधेयक, २०१० को खंगालने की भी नहीं है जो कि सरकार का आम नागरिक समाज के खिलाफ असली हथियार है, जबकि विधेयक के पारित हुए बिना ही ३ करोड़ ७३ लाख यूनिक आइडेन्टटी नंबर/आधार संख्या बना लिए गए है जो कि नेशनल पोपुलेसन रजिस्टर (राष्ट्रीय जनसंख्या रजिस्टर) से जुड़ा हुआ है. जिसे देशवासियों की आँखों की पुतलियो, उंगलियों के निशान और तस्वीर के आधार पर बनाया जा रही है जो की अमानवीय है.


राजनितिक दलों मे इच्छाशक्ति का अभाव कंपनी विधेयक, २००९ के सम्बन्ध मे भी दिख रहा है जिसे जे जे इरानी समिति की सिफारिसो पर बनाया गया है. इसके तहत केवल एक व्यक्ति भी कंपनी बना सकता है. भारत के आर्थिक सर्वेक्षण २००५ के अनुसार देश मे ४ करोड़ २० लाख लोग उद्योग धंधे मे है जबकि कम्पनियों की संख्या ३ लाख से भी कम है. इस कानून के जरिये ४ करोड़ २० लाख उद्योग धंधो का कम्पनीकरण किया जा रहा है मगर गैर सरकारी संस्थानों को इसे खंगालने की फुर्सत नहीं या नियत नहीं है. जबकि नए कानून मंत्री वीरप्पा मोइली इसे पारित करवाने को अपनी प्राथमिकता बता रहे है. कंपनी कानून को नजर अंदाज ऐसे देश मे किया जा रहा जो २३ जून को ब्रिटिश ईस्ट इंडिया कंपनी से अपने पराजित होने और शोषित होने का अपनी २५४वा  वर्षगाठ मनाने से कतरा रहा है. इसी दिन की हार के कारण  ब्रिटिश संसद को अवीभाजीत भारत के सम्बन्ध मे कानून बनाने का अधिकार मिला उसमे ब्रिटिश कम्पनी कानून भी शामिल है जिसे भारत ने बड़ी मासूमियत से अपना लिया. देश और सरकार का भी कम्पनीकरण किया जा रहा है. गैर सरकारी संस्थानों और कम्पनी आधारित अखबारों और चैनलों से यह उम्मीद करना की देश और सरकार के कम्पनीकरण को रोकेंगे, कल्पना करने की क्षमता मे विकलांगता को दर्शाता है. 

विशिष्ट पहचान अंक और राष्ट्रीय जनसंख्या रजिस्टर सम्मिलित रूप से राजसत्ता और बाजार के द्वारा जिन भी कारणों से नागरिकों पर नजर रखने के उपकरण हैं। ये परियोजनाएं न तो अपनी संरचना में और न ही अमल में निर्दोष हैं। विशिष्ट पहचान अंक प्राधिकरण के कार्य योजना प्रपत्र में कहा गया है कि विशिष्ट पहचान अंक सिर्फ पहचान की गारंटी है, अधिकारों, सेवाओं या हकदारी की गारंटी नहीं। आगे यह भी कहा गया है कि यह पहचान की भी गारंटी नहीं है, बल्कि पहचान नियत करने में सहयोगी है। हम विशिष्ट पहचान अंक जैसे उपकरणों द्वारा नागरिकों पर सतत नजर रखने और उनके जैवमापक रिकार्ड तैयार करने पर आधारित तकनीकी शासन की पुरजोर मुखालफत करने वाले व्यक्तियों, जनसंगठनों, जन आंदोलनों, संस्थाओं के अभियान का समर्थन करना होगा. और सी.ए.जी. से यह मांग करना होगा कि जनवरी 2009 से आज तक विशिष्ट पहचान अंक प्राधिकरण की कारगुजारियों की जांच करे। योजना आयोग और निलेकनी प्राधिकरण द्वारा किये गए कारनामो को तत्काल रोका जाये.  देशवासियों के पास अपनी संप्रभुता को बचाने के लिए आधार अंक योजना का बहिष्कार ही एक मात्र रास्ता है. 

कैदी पहचान कानून, १९२० के तहत किसी भी कैदी के उंगलियों के निशान को सिर्फ मजिसट्रेट की अनुमति से लिया जाता है और उनकी रिहाई पर उंगलियों के निशान के रिकॉर्ड को नष्ट करना होता है.  कैदियों के ऊपर होनेवाले जुल्म की अनदेखी की यह सजा की अब हर देशवासी को  उंगलियों के निशान देने होंगे और कैदियों के मामले में तो उनके रिहाई के वक्त नष्ट करने का प्रावधान रहा है, देशवासियों के पूरे  शारीरिक हस्ताक्षर को रिकॉर्ड में रखा जा रहा है. बावजूद इसके जानकारी के अभाव में देशवासियों की सरकार के प्रति आस्था  धार्मिक आस्थावो से भी ज्यादा गहरी प्रतीत होती है. 

गोपाल कृष्ण 

2025 - Is the UID project losing its identity in J&K? - IBN Live

India | Updated Nov 28, 2011 at 08:05am IST

Mufti Islah

Srinagar: In Jammu and Kashmir the process of issuing Unique Identification cards to its citizens has fallen prey to red tapism. Months after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was scanned for the Unique Identification Number or 'Aadhar' or UID, he is still to receive his card after the UID project was scrapped midway.

In a place marred by militancy, the UID drive would have helped the security situation a great deal, but strangely Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in the country where not a single enrollment has taken place in the last several months.

People are demanding that the Omar government explain why the exercise has been taken off yet.

Wipro Technolgies, Gurgaon and Srinagar's Comtech Technology won the bid to carry out the enrollment of 27 lakh and 45 lakh people respectively. The J&K Bank was appointed as the registrar, while the state IT department oversaw the process. However, midway, the government scrapped the contract, inviting fresh bids and criticism over its action.

Even as the J&K Bank and the IT officials pass the buck, sources say that both the companies were shown the door apparently to please a senior cabinet minister whose son has shown an interest in the project. The IT ministry, however, has its own reasons.

IT minister Aga Ruhulla said, "Procedures under which the bid was awarded didn't fulfill prescribed norms and after a re-evaluation, we decided to cancel it."

While UID enrollment gathers pace in other states, in Jammu and Kashmir it has become a casualty to bureaucratic red tapism and despite the Chief Minister and the Governor endorsing, it pretty much remains a no-show.

2024 - Withdraw Aadhar scheme: Achuthanandan - IBN Live

Thiruvananthapuram | Posted on Nov 27, 2011 at 10:51am IST

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan has demanded that the Aadhar scheme for Unique Identification card should be abandoned in view of the fact that even the Union Home Ministry has come to the conclusion that the exercise will ultimately affect national security.

Achuthanandan pointed out that Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had observed that an Aadhar card could be forged by anyone without any checks or scrutiny.

The Union Minister had even written to the Planning Board vice-chairman in this regard and the Population Registrar-General has also expressed doubts whether the card could be used for the population register. 


The fears expressed on the security aspects of the card as well as citizen’s rights have been vindicated, the Opposition leader said. 


Achuthanandan alleged that it is commercial interests which guided the piloting of a scheme which has flopped globally.

2023 - Declare Aadhaar illegal, pleads suit filed against UIDAI - TOI

TNN | Nov 27, 2011, 01.55PM IST

BANGALORE: 

A suit filed in a city civil court in Bangalore feels Aadhaar, the mega Unique Identification project of the central government, is illegal.

Missile scientist Mathew Thomas and social activist V K Somashekar jointly filed this suit.The chairperson of the Unique Identification Authority of India and chairperson of Planning Commission of India are defendants in the suit.

The plaintiffs contend that the scheme was designed for the benefit of few private companies and without any serious study. "There are complaints of large-scale violations of these 'contracts of enrollment'. The private companies which are enrolling agencies employ temporary workers on a contract basis. Their antecedents are unknown. This is a risk to both the nation and the people. They are implementing the UID project in an absolutely irresponsible manner. They have deliberately compromised the rights of the people. 

The plaintiffs are extremely concerned with the way the defendants are abusing their position and powers, spending huge amounts of taxpayers' money. Continuing with Aadhaar is against the interest of citizens of India. The said scheme is in violation of all known civil rights and a disempowering mechanism. It is against all accepted norms of rule of law and fundamental rights, guaranteed under the Constitution of India", the suit claimed.

The plaintiffs further claim that the Aadhaar scheme has been illegally designed without any semblance of a statutory right with the officials and other interested parties, who are by and large private companies having substantial investments in software technologies. "The purpose of issuing a number to every resident of India is a dangerous design and is being issued with a mala fide intention of enabling surveillance of the people, commercial exploitation of demographic data, unjust enrichment of some individuals, national and transnational agencies, bureaucrats, national and transnational monetary agencies, financial institutions, insurance based institutions, communication companies, imaging companies, vested societies and organizations of dubious background all at the cost of taxpayer's money," the suit claimed.

The plaintiffs also feel the authorities have not conducted any serious study on feasibility, implications and pitfalls of the scheme. "There are serious lacunae in the process of issuing the Aadhaar number to every resident. The authorities have not given any serious thought on the issues of personal liberty, right to privacy and various other issues of citizens of India. They have made tall claims of utility of Aadhaar. The process raises dangerous issues of possibility of compromising rights of citizens of India and possibility of the whole process being one made to facilitate state surveillance of people, enrich already rich national and transnational corporate agencies like Wipro, HCL, Infosys," the plaintiffs claimed while seeking an injunction order.

2022 - R8,861-cr boost for UID phase-3 - Financial express

Bijay Shankar Patel, Kirtika Suneja

Posted online: 2011-11-28 02:55:28+05:30

New DelhiThe Aadhar project has been approved R8,861 crore by the finance ministry to reach out to 200 million Indians with biometric cards. The approval still falls short of extending the project to the entire Indian adult population but will allow the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to develop back-end capacity for servicing the entire database of 1.2 billion Indians.

For the time being, it also settles the dispute between Aadhar and the home ministry on who will do the front-end job of registering all adults on a national database. The approval will, therefore, keep the momentum going for the Nandan Nilekani-led project which is an integral part of UPA-II’s governance reform process that aims to provide a unique identification number to every Indian with linked data in biometrics. The home ministry wants the office of the Census General to do the registration as the National 

Population Register.

The UIDAI is an attached office of the Planning Commission. With the latest approval, the project’s third phase will begin from 2012. Earlier, R3,170.32 crore was approved under the first two phases of the scheme by the expenditure finance committee. The first set of 100 million UID numbers were issued between August 2010 and March 2011. Phase I of the scheme, which began in 2009, comprised setting up necessary infrastructure for offices at headquarters and regional headquarters and creating testing facilities for running the pilots and Proof of Concept experiments.

Confirming the development, director-general of the authority RS Sharma told FE: “The funding has been approved and this will be used for the third phase of the project.”

The approval is significant since in September, the finance ministry had held up UIDAI’s additional R17,000-crore funding proposal to capture biometrics of all 1.2 billion Indians through its own registrars, citing duplication in expenditure between it and the NPR.

Recently, home minister P Chidambaram had said the registration should be done by NPR and the data management handled by Aadhar under UID. 

The Aadhar system has faced criticism from various departments regarding an apparent lack of checks and balances in the registration process. However, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee has reaffirmed his commitment to release the requisite funds for the UID mission.

“This money will be used for enrolling 200 million people by March 2011. We have already enrolled 140 million and 70 million Aadhars have been issued,” said a senior UIDAI official who did not wish to be named.

The authority has been enrolling 30 million residents every month and was keen on securing the funding to maintain the pace beyond March 2012.

“We have a target of enrolling 600 million people by 2014 and we can’t stop in between because it takes time to ramp up,” the official added. But a finance ministry official said those numbers will need additional funding beyond the one sanctioned now, for which no decision has been taken.

Aadhaar enrolment is expected to be a game-changer in the delivery of social security programmes as it can be used to better identify the poor making for better-targeting of welfare payments under schemes like MNREGA as well as subsidies on LPG, kerosene, food and fertiliser. 

2021 - Chidambaram wants Nilekani to log out - Indian express

Santwana Bhattacharya

Express News Service

Last Updated : 27 Nov 2011 03:55:03 PM IST

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is getting a lot of mail these days. It was the turn of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to take up the protest pen on November 11, 2011, to raise serious security concerns about Nandan Nilekani’s Unique Identification Authority of India’s ‘Aadhar’ cards project. In his note, Chidambaram has also accused Nilekani of dangerously encroaching on the legally mandated enrolment work being conducted by the Registrar General of India, which is in the Home Ministry’s domain. Reflecting the shadow war between him and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Chidambaram’s note suggests that its not only Nilekani who is encroaching on the Home Ministry’s territory. “The UIDAI was allowed to get enrolments of 10 crore residents through multiple registrars up to 31 March 2011. This was raised to an additional 10 crore residents up to March 2012 by the Ministry of Finance (subject to post facto ratification by the CC-UIDAD. This was approved as interim measure.)”

Nilekani’s reporting structure is unprecedented in history; he reports directly to the Prime Minister, thus bypassing all checks and balances in government. The Planning Commission had shot off two letters to the Finance Ministry and the Home Ministry protesting the UIDAI’s handling of finances. Its chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia suggested the UIDAI to be “financially self-contained with its own financial advisor entrusted with clearing expenditure within their approved budget while observing relevant government rules.” After Nilekani bypassed Montek and requested the Finance Minister to grant him additional funds of `15,000 crore over and above the `2,000-crore plan allocation and `1,000 crore from the non-plan head, the Plan Panel was furious. “UIDAI’s present system represents a major departure from government procedures and removes all inbuilt checks and balances. We need a relook at the UIDAI’s administrative structure.”

 It can be inferred from Chidambaram’s note that Nilekani being unaccountable to the system is setting a dangerous precedent. Chidambaram writes the decision to register all citizens and issue identity cards to them precedes the formation of the UIDAI. The legal provisions were put in place way back in 2003. “The enrolments were to be done only by the Registrar General of India (RGI),’’ the note stresses, adding that “the primary role of UIDAI was clearly laid down: generate and assign UID to residents’’. Chidambaram notes that despite the advice given to him by the PM to consult the Attorney-General to amend the legal provisions so as to render UIDAI data “acceptable’’, he was constrained to point out that “the NPR project has been conceived by the MHA based on its appreciation of internal security in the country.’’ Chidambaram writes while “the MHA is to carry out enrolment (biographic and biometric), the UIDAI is to carry out de-duplication and issue Aadhar numbers.’’