AADHAAR RELATED ARTICLES: Sheila Dixit

In 2009, I became extremely concerned with the concept of Unique Identity for various reasons. Connected with many like minded highly educated people who were all concerned.

On 18th May 2010, I started this Blog to capture anything and everything I came across on the topic. This blog with its million hits is a testament to my concerns about loss of privacy and fear of the ID being misused and possible Criminal activities it could lead to.

In 2017 the Supreme Court of India gave its verdict after one of the longest hearings on any issue. I did my bit and appealed to the Supreme Court Judges too through an On Line Petition.

In 2019 the Aadhaar Legislation has been revised and passed by the two houses of the Parliament of India making it Legal. I am no Legal Eagle so my Opinion carries no weight except with people opposed to the very concept.

In 2019, this Blog now just captures on a Daily Basis list of Articles Published on anything to do with Aadhaar as obtained from Daily Google Searches and nothing more. Cannot burn the midnight candle any longer.

"In Matters of Conscience, the Law of Majority has no place"- Mahatma Gandhi

Ram Krishnaswamy

Sydney, Australia.

Aadhaar

The UIDAI has taken two successive governments in India and the entire world for a ride. It identifies nothing. It is not unique. The entire UID data has never been verified and audited. The UID cannot be used for governance, financial databases or anything. It’s use is the biggest threat to national security since independence. – Anupam Saraph 2018

When I opposed Aadhaar in 2010 , I was called a BJP stooge. In 2016 I am still opposing Aadhaar for the same reasons and I am told I am a Congress die hard. No one wants to see why I oppose Aadhaar as it is too difficult. Plus Aadhaar is FREE so why not get one ? Ram Krishnaswamy

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.-Mahatma Gandhi

In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place.Mahatma Gandhi

“The invasion of privacy is of no consequence because privacy is not a fundamental right and has no meaning under Article 21. The right to privacy is not a guaranteed under the constitution, because privacy is not a fundamental right.” Article 21 of the Indian constitution refers to the right to life and liberty -Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi

“There is merit in the complaints. You are unwittingly allowing snooping, harassment and commercial exploitation. The information about an individual obtained by the UIDAI while issuing an Aadhaar card shall not be used for any other purpose, save as above, except as may be directed by a court for the purpose of criminal investigation.”-A three judge bench headed by Justice J Chelameswar said in an interim order.

Legal scholar Usha Ramanathan describes UID as an inverse of sunshine laws like the Right to Information. While the RTI makes the state transparent to the citizen, the UID does the inverse: it makes the citizen transparent to the state, she says.

Good idea gone bad
I have written earlier that UID/Aadhaar was a poorly designed, unreliable and expensive solution to the really good idea of providing national identification for over a billion Indians. My petition contends that UID in its current form violates the right to privacy of a citizen, guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. This is because sensitive biometric and demographic information of citizens are with enrolment agencies, registrars and sub-registrars who have no legal liability for any misuse of this data. This petition has opened up the larger discussion on privacy rights for Indians. The current Article 21 interpretation by the Supreme Court was done decades ago, before the advent of internet and today’s technology and all the new privacy challenges that have arisen as a consequence.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MP Rajya Sabha

“What is Aadhaar? There is enormous confusion. That Aadhaar will identify people who are entitled for subsidy. No. Aadhaar doesn’t determine who is eligible and who isn’t,” Jairam Ramesh

But Aadhaar has been mythologised during the previous government by its creators into some technology super force that will transform governance in a miraculous manner. I even read an article recently that compared Aadhaar to some revolution and quoted a 1930s historian, Will Durant.Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Rajya Sabha MP

“I know you will say that it is not mandatory. But, it is compulsorily mandatorily voluntary,” Jairam Ramesh, Rajya Saba April 2017.

August 24, 2017: The nine-judge Constitution Bench rules that right to privacy is “intrinsic to life and liberty”and is inherently protected under the various fundamental freedoms enshrined under Part III of the Indian Constitution

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the World; indeed it's the only thing that ever has"

“Arguing that you don’t care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don’t care about free speech because you have nothing to say.” -Edward Snowden

In the Supreme Court, Meenakshi Arora, one of the senior counsel in the case, compared it to living under a general, perpetual, nation-wide criminal warrant.

Had never thought of it that way, but living in the Aadhaar universe is like living in a prison. All of us are treated like criminals with barely any rights or recourse and gatekeepers have absolute power on you and your life.

Announcing the launch of the # BreakAadhaarChainscampaign, culminating with events in multiple cities on 12th Jan. This is the last opportunity to make your voice heard before the Supreme Court hearings start on 17th Jan 2018. In collaboration with @no2uidand@rozi_roti.

UIDAI's security seems to be founded on four time tested pillars of security idiocy

1) Denial

2) Issue fiats and point finger

3) Shoot messenger

4) Bury head in sand.

God Save India

Showing posts with label Sheila Dixit. Show all posts

Monday, September 30, 2013

4695 - Fate of Aadhaar-based schemes in Delhi uncertain - TNN

Fate of Aadhaar-based schemes in Delhi uncertain

Ambika Pandit, TNN | Sep 23, 2013, 11.58 PM IST

NEW DELHI: With the Supreme Court making it clear that Aadhaar cannot be mandatory for release of benefits under social welfare schemes, the enrolment by the state government for the recently launched Food Security Programme and 10-odd cash transfer schemes, including the cash-for-food Annshri Yojana, seems to be in jeopardy.

The city witnessed a great rush early this year when the government decided to link critical documentation like marriage registration, property registration, income certification, handicap certification and caste certificates for the SC/ST &OBC category to Aadhaar enrolment. And just last week, the Sheila Dikshit government announced 100% Aadhaar enrolment.

While critics of Aadhaar all along said the law does not provide for making Aadhaar mandatory for any government scheme, the CM relentlessly pushed for enrolment and the launch of Aadhaar-based cash transfers and the Food Security Scheme, arguing that biometric identification is a foolproof way to weed out duplication.

On the Supreme Court order, Delhi's Food and Civil Supplies minister Haroon Yusuf sounded cautious: "I am yet to see the order and will only know what to do when I see it. But if the court has said that Aadhaar cannot be mandatory, then we will have to see what to do".

The Food Security Programme that calls for registration through a form so that the beneficiaries can be issued the National Food Programme card has a column for the Aadhaar enrolment number.

Sources said reworking the modalities to register for social security schemes at this stage may delay and even derail the delivery of benefits. The government's direct benefit transfer platform is hinged to Aadhaar and it is the critical identity link that makes cash transfer possible. For instance the Dilli Annshree Yojna wherein Rs 600 cash is released to beneficiaries has an enrolment ceiling of Rs 2 lakh. So far, 1.20 lakh people have been enrolled, more than a lakh receive Aadhaar-based cash transfer and the rest are to be brought on board.

The record of payment delivery in other cash transfer schemes is hardly encouraging, though. The three pension schemes for widows, the handicapped and the elderly have 6.5 lakh beneficiaries. But the social welfare department is struggling to process data to make Aadhaar-based cash transfers possible. In case of Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana there are 8,711 beneficiaries but only 54 have received Aadhaar-based cash transfers.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

4654 - Confusion over venue leads to chaos - TNN

Confusion over venue leads to chaos

TNN Sep 22, 2013, 11.39PM IST

NEW DELHI: Chief minister Sheila Dikshit's visit to Batla House turned into a ruckus as women turned up for the event thinking it's been organized to issue Aadhaar cards and voter IDs. CM was to address a seminar on leadership at a community centre there.

"My three-year-old daughter has dengue but I got her here for her Aadhaar card," said Salma Begum, a resident of Joga Bai extension, Okhla.

"Many got confused over the venue and we had to push people out of the community centre. Hundreds of women and children came here believing it to be some camp for Aadhaar and voter cards," said Mohd Yusuf of Haryali NGO, the organizing body.

When many got to know that Sheila Dikshit will be coming over to address a seminar, they stayed on thinking that she could help with these forms.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

3352 - CM seeks Nilekani’s intervention to clear obstacles in UID cash transfer - INDIAN EXPRESS

CM seeks Nilekani’s intervention to clear obstacles in UID cash transfer

Prashant : New Delhi, Tue May 28 2013, 01:14 hrs

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday sought Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) chairman Nandan Nilekani's intervention in overcoming obstacles in opening accounts in banks, which the government maintained, had not rendered active cooperation. Dikshit said she also plans to write a letter to the Union Finance Minister in this regard shortly.

Following a meeting with Nilekani, Dikshit said the government was keen on increasing the number of beneficiaries under the Aadhaar-based direct cash transfers. "We hope to increase intended beneficiaries in Delhi to at least 30 lakh but there are still obstacles in opening bank accounts. This results in difficulties for beneficiaries," Dikshit said.

The Delhi government hopes to include more beneficiaries under Delhi Annashri Yojana and Delhi Kerosene-Free Scheme. "Along with this, we also hope to include eligible citizens under building construction workers welfare fund, school children, pensioners, widows and handicapped categories in the ambit of the Aadhaar Based Direct Cash Transfer," Dikshit said.

Senior officials in the Revenue department said the government would also facilitate the installation of small ATM machines in 140 Gender Resource Centres (GRC), 11 offices of deputy commissioners of Revenue and certain circle offices of the Food and Supplies department.

"In order to help beneficiaries withdraw their benefit amount easily, employees working at these offices would be given the status of bank correspondents," a government official said.

3350 - Govt expands cash transfer scheme ambit - HINDUSTAN TIMES

Govt expands cash transfer scheme ambit

HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times New Delhi, May 27, 2013

The Delhi government is planning to increase the ambit of beneficiaries under Aadhar-based direct cash transfer.

“We would like to include more beneficiaries under the Delhi Anshree Yojna and Delhi Kerosene Free Scheme, apart from including beneficiaries under building construction workers welfare fund, school children and pensioners, underage widows and disabled categories in the ambit of those beneficiaries who have been getting their benefits under Aadhar-based direct cash transfer. This would result in increasing the number of such beneficiaries to up to 30 lakh,” said Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit.

She held a meeting with the Unique Identification Authority of India CEO Nandan Nilekani at the Delhi Secretariat. Divisional commissioner Dharampal and commissioner of food and supply SS Yadav were present.

An official said the government would facilitate installation of small ATMs at its 140 gender resource centres.

3348 - Banks hurdle in cash transfer to poor: Sheila Dikshit - TIMES OF INDIA

Banks hurdle in cash transfer to poor: Sheila Dikshit

TNN | May 28, 2013, 05.35 AM IST

NEW DELHI: While declaring that her government was keen to take the Aadhaar-based cash transfers to 30 lakh beneficiaries across various schemes, chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday expressed concern over obstacles in the delivery of cash transfers due to non-cooperation of banks.

She urged Unique Identification Authority of India chairman Nandan Nilekani to work towards speeding up the bank account opening process linked to Aadhaar enrolments. Dikshit also plans to take up the issue with finance minister P Chidambaram.

One of the flagship schemes of the state is the Annshree Yojana (Cash for Food) scheme wherein a monthly subsidy of Rs 600 is given to beneficiaries not covered by the public distribution system. CM told Nilekani that Delhi government planned to facilitate direct transfer of cash subsidies and other financial assistance to beneficiaries of various central and state schemes.

The beneficiaries have been facing difficulties in withdrawing money. "We will install small ATMs at 140 gender resource centres, 11 offices of DCs of revenue and in offices of food and supply department," she said. The government will give the status of "bank correspondents" to employees of these offices.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

3071 - Aadhar: C.M. fixed 31st March as deadline to complete the target

Aadhar: C.M. fixed 31st March as deadline to complete the target

New Delhi, Sat, 23 Feb 2013

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has reviewed the implementation of Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme and Aadhar enrollment in the Capital City in a high level meeting which was attended by the Food and Supplies Minister Haroon Yusuf, Chief Secretary D.M. Spolia, Chairman (UIDAI) Nandan Nilekani, Divisional Commissioner and other senior officers of the city government, banks, UIDAI.

It was reported that 94% population has been enrolled for Aadhar numbers and only 6% are to be enrolled yet. Dikshit instructed the Divisional Commissioner to complete cent per cent enrollment by 31st March, 2013.

She exhorted people to get themselves enrolled at DC offices, SDM offices, GRCs, EPIC Centres as Aadhar number is going to be essential for availing benefit under various social sector schemes of the city government. Those persons will not have Aadhar number would not be able to avail the benefits under various government schemes, hence they are advised to get them enrolled at the earliest.

The implementation of nine centrally sponsored schemes under Aadhar based Direct Cash Transfer mode were also discussed in detail. While reviewing the status, Smt. Dikshit directed the Revenue Department to extend this implementation in all 11 Revenue Districts. It may be recalled that on 1st January, 2013, nine schemes were implemented under Aadhar based Direct Cash Transfer mode in two districts of the Capital city. Smt. Dikshit also directed the department concerned to bring improvement keeping in view the experience and evaluation of results of implementation in these two districts.

The issue of opening of no-frill bank accounts was also discussed in the meeting. The bank representatives were asked to open such account without any hindrance. The representative must avoid insisting submission of residence proof alongwith Aadhar number. It was stated that Aadhar number alone is sufficient for such proof.

She exhorted all departments and agencies concerned to work in tandem and in effective coordination so that the motive of Aadhar-based Direct Cash Transfer could be made successful to ensure benefit of schemes to the real beneficiaries without any difficulty, delay, leakage, corruption and cuts by middlemen.