Jaideep Deogharia, TNN Jan 11, 2012, 11.19PM IST
Director general of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) R S Sharma was here recently to review the progress of Aadhaar linked retail payment. Following is the excerpt of his interview
Q. How does one benefit from an Aadhaar number?
It helps indentify a resident of a particular place irrespective of his geographical location. Technologically, it is unique. A random number is issued to an individual against details of his biometrics, name, parents' name and address. It helps an individual establish his identity before public and private agencies in the country.
Q. What does the number symbolize?
Aadhaar numbers, apart from being unique, are a set of 12 digits randomly selected and printed in three sets of four digits. They don't indicate the state, district or village of the individual. Nor is there any digit to establish whether the number holder is a male or female.
Q. What is the security level of the data bank?
The data pool being created by collection of biometric and demographic details is being stored in a highly secure server. It is directly monitored by the government. The general information about someone's Aadhaar number is of practically no use because the identity of a person is established not by the number but by using his biometrics and sorting it out from the recordstored with UIDAI.
Q: When is the project expected to be completed?
Once the entire population is covered, the mandate of UIDAI will be to update the records and establish the identity of individuals in service in different government and private agencies.
Q: Is there any plan to include Aadhaar numbers with newer fields?
A high powered committee is working to try out different applications of Aadhaar numbers. The beginning has been made with different welfare schemes of the government by linking the Aadhaar number with bank accounts. Once the bank account is opened, cash transactions with the account for unlettered persons will become easy. Transfer of cash subsidy on LGP cylinders, grains of public distribution system and fertilizers directly to the account of the beneficiary and payment of MGNREGA wage are being experimented. Soon we may link the Aadhaar number with railway tickets so that in case of some mishap, establishment of the identity becomes easier.
Director general of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) R S Sharma was here recently to review the progress of Aadhaar linked retail payment. Following is the excerpt of his interview
Q. How does one benefit from an Aadhaar number?
It helps indentify a resident of a particular place irrespective of his geographical location. Technologically, it is unique. A random number is issued to an individual against details of his biometrics, name, parents' name and address. It helps an individual establish his identity before public and private agencies in the country.
Q. What does the number symbolize?
Aadhaar numbers, apart from being unique, are a set of 12 digits randomly selected and printed in three sets of four digits. They don't indicate the state, district or village of the individual. Nor is there any digit to establish whether the number holder is a male or female.
Q. What is the security level of the data bank?
The data pool being created by collection of biometric and demographic details is being stored in a highly secure server. It is directly monitored by the government. The general information about someone's Aadhaar number is of practically no use because the identity of a person is established not by the number but by using his biometrics and sorting it out from the recordstored with UIDAI.
Q: When is the project expected to be completed?
Once the entire population is covered, the mandate of UIDAI will be to update the records and establish the identity of individuals in service in different government and private agencies.
Q: Is there any plan to include Aadhaar numbers with newer fields?
A high powered committee is working to try out different applications of Aadhaar numbers. The beginning has been made with different welfare schemes of the government by linking the Aadhaar number with bank accounts. Once the bank account is opened, cash transactions with the account for unlettered persons will become easy. Transfer of cash subsidy on LGP cylinders, grains of public distribution system and fertilizers directly to the account of the beneficiary and payment of MGNREGA wage are being experimented. Soon we may link the Aadhaar number with railway tickets so that in case of some mishap, establishment of the identity becomes easier.
