UID comes under the jurisdiction of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), a central government agency responsible for implementing the Adhar. It was established in February 2009, and will own and operate the unique identification number database. The UID is a unique number to all Indians, but not smart cards. The authority will provide a database of residents containing very simple data in biometrics.
Adhar is a 12-digit unique number which the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) will issue for all residents in India. The number will be stored in a centralized database and linked to the basic demographics and biometric information - photograph, 10 fingerprints and iris - of each person. The UID is supposed to be a cost-effective method to check the details of a citizen, easily verifiable online. The aim is to eliminate duplicate and fake identities in government and private databases. The number is random generated, devoid of any classification based on caste, creed, religion or region.
Unique national IDs, an aspect of UID will also help in curbing election rigging and the various internal hitches which affect subsidies and poverty alleviation programs such as NREGA. Addressing illegal immigration into India and terrorist threats is another goal of the programme.
The central government is on a war footing to have the unique identification number along with associated identifying biometric data and photographs. There are reports that the drive is already underway in Malappuram and Kannur districts. However, some claim that obtaining a unique number would be voluntary, but those who refuse to divulge the necessary information shall not have access to facilities that require one to cite the ID number.
The UID is also meant to check bribery, denial of public services to citizens, especially below the poverty line segment. As the unique identity database comes into existence, the various identity databases (voter ID, passports, ration cards, licences, fishing permits, border area ID cards) that already exist in India would be merged to it. The union labour ministry has offered its verified Employment Provident Fund (EPF) database of 42mn citizens as the first database to be integrated into the unique ID system.
The UID will link a person's passport number, driving licence, PAN card, bank accounts, address, voter ID and other related documents, which will be checked through a database. This will help standardise the address. Different addresses on PAN and driving licence, for example, is liable to get caught. The worst hit would be those who refuse to have UIDs, in business, operating bank accounts and other offices which will require a UID.
However, primary, secondary and tertiary zones have already been covered in a drive some time back, but certain divisions are yet to be covered. The five panchayats which were merged into the corporation area, Koorkenchery, Vilvattam, Ollookkara, Ollur and Ayyanthole are yet to be covered.
"The problem we face is a severe shortage in terms of logistics. The corporation does not have enough task force to complete the process in time as yet, since we cannot send out contingency workers to collect information for UID. We are also short of funds and allocation of funds regarding this is being decided in the coming finance committee meeting," said Subi Babu.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Sreejith VT Nandakumar
Quelle/Source: City Journal, 30.07.2011
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