Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Confused over Aadhaar, Cabinet sets up GoM

Confused over Aadhaar, Cabinet sets up GoM

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Feb 1, 2013   modified Modified on Feb 1, 2013
-The Economic Times

Confusion over whether the unique identity number is a number, a card or both, and concerns over the UID and the National Population Register duplicating data prompted the Cabinet to refer UPA-2 's ambitious project to a group of ministers.

The discussion on Thursday revealed that the Cabinet was not immune to contradictory and blurred perceptions about Aadhaar, as UID is known, with some ministers saying they had received a card along with a number.

Among the UID sceptics were coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal, social justice and empowerment minister Selja, heavy industry minister Praful Patel and railway minister Pawan Bansal.

Rural development minister Jairam Ramesh pointed out that the UID was essentially a number. This is the correct position as the card provides a number to be linked to the database establishing identity.

IDENTITY CRISIS

Ministers wonder if UID is a card or a number or both. Jairam Ramesh steps in to say it is a card that provides a number linked to a database Among UID sceptics are Sriprakash Jaiswal, Kumari Selja, Praful Patel and Pawan Bansal.

Chidambaram says National Population Register more important than UID. Those covered by UID will have to register for NPR, not vice versa NPR database to be stored by UID authority, match biometrics to verify identity Cabinet frets over UID, NPR overlap.

Rural development minister Jairam Ramesh, who has been fielded along with finance minister P Chidambaram to project the benefits of Aadhaar, also suggested that the UID number could be sent to users through a mobile phone. However, oil minister M Veerappa Moily countered that the rural populations may not be conversant with the technology. Moily is understood to have added that he, in fact, was yet to figure out everything about a mobile.

Differences persisted as concern was also expressed over duplication or overlap between the National Population Register (NPR) and the UID. Both processes involve similar collection of biometric data including iris scans. With the scheme involving a Rs 5,000 crore rollout in the initial stage, it was felt that the proposal should be subjected to a more detailed examination by a GoM.

Chidambaram is understood to have pointed out that NPR would matter rather than UID. The minister seems to have referred to the population register being a record that can indicate citizenship rather than being a biometric database.

A tussle over who would collect and store data saw a compromise being worked out, with the task being divided between UID and NPR. The somewhat complicated truce meant that those covered by UID would have to register with NPR as well. On the other hand, persons covered by NPR do not need to register afresh with UID.

The database is expected to be eventually stored by the UID authority as it is seen to have developed backend linkages that make Aadhaar an effective instrument to verify identity.

The project envisages a UID number being used to instantly match the biometrics stored by the authority to verify the identity of a person. This is intended to allow simpler access to services such as banking while allowing direct transfer of certain benefits like scholarships and pensions.

Aware of the politically tricky ground of UID being used to establish nationality, the authority's brief states that it must collect data about persons who are usually residents of India. The objective was to first get a fix on the numbers, including illegal residents.

The Economic Times, 1 February, 2013, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/confused-over-aadhaar-cabinet-sets-up-gom/articleshow/18285945.cms


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close