Statutory status for Aadhaar
The Statesman09 Oct 2013
Bill says number will give identity, not entitlement to scheme
Officials sources said the government had accepted some of the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee to which the Bill was referred after being introduced in the Rajya Sabha.
Sources said there were exaggerated estimates of the scheme in circulation. The Authority said the scheme would cost only Rs 12,400 crore, and not over Rs one lakh crore, as claimed in some reports. The government has assured that privacy of the citizens would be protected and the data collected would not be shared.
The main benefit to the government under the Bill would be that there would be no duplication of beneficiaries. The subsidies would go to the right persons and there would be transparency and frauds would be avoided. Nationwide portability would be allowed.
Besides giving statutory status to the UIDAI, the Bill seeks to provide legal backing to Aadhaar, which is used by ministries, departments and states to disburse subsidies.
The UIDAI issues the 12-digit Aadhaar numbers to residents on the basis of an executive order. The new law seeks to create a National Identification Authority of India, which will oversee implementation of the Aadhaar project. It seeks to define penalties in case of misuse of data collected under the project.
According to sources, the amended Bill also addresses the issue of whether the UIDAI can enrol all residents or Indian nationals only. “The Aadhaar number can be issued to any resident, including foreign national. It does not confer any rights regarding citizenship or domicile or any other right as per Section 6 of the Bill,” the sources said. “Aadhaar establishes the identity of a person and not the nationality. It also serves as proof of residence. Moreover, it is a voluntary facility and not mandatory.’’
STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
New Delhi, 8 October
New Delhi, 8 October
The Union Cabinet today cleared the National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2010, with some amendments, to provide statutory status to the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which issues Aadhaar numbers to residents.
Officials sources said the government had accepted some of the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee to which the Bill was referred after being introduced in the Rajya Sabha.
Sources said there were exaggerated estimates of the scheme in circulation. The Authority said the scheme would cost only Rs 12,400 crore, and not over Rs one lakh crore, as claimed in some reports. The government has assured that privacy of the citizens would be protected and the data collected would not be shared.
The Aadhaar card will give only identity and no entitlement under any scheme.
Aadhaar identity does not mean citizenship, it was stated. Sources said the implications of the scheme for the migrants was an issue and the government had explained that.
Aadhaar identity does not mean citizenship, it was stated. Sources said the implications of the scheme for the migrants was an issue and the government had explained that.
The main benefit to the government under the Bill would be that there would be no duplication of beneficiaries. The subsidies would go to the right persons and there would be transparency and frauds would be avoided. Nationwide portability would be allowed.
Besides giving statutory status to the UIDAI, the Bill seeks to provide legal backing to Aadhaar, which is used by ministries, departments and states to disburse subsidies.
The UIDAI issues the 12-digit Aadhaar numbers to residents on the basis of an executive order. The new law seeks to create a National Identification Authority of India, which will oversee implementation of the Aadhaar project. It seeks to define penalties in case of misuse of data collected under the project.
According to sources, the amended Bill also addresses the issue of whether the UIDAI can enrol all residents or Indian nationals only. “The Aadhaar number can be issued to any resident, including foreign national. It does not confer any rights regarding citizenship or domicile or any other right as per Section 6 of the Bill,” the sources said. “Aadhaar establishes the identity of a person and not the nationality. It also serves as proof of residence. Moreover, it is a voluntary facility and not mandatory.’’