(For those who’ve missed the news, which is most unlikely though).
Some of the unparalleled benefits post-implementation of this audacious project are:
-
1.Ensures that lacunas in the UPA flagship schemes (NREGA, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan, Food Security Act,etc) will be removed so that the benefits do not reach those they aren't meant for.
2.It can bolster up the country's security issues by addressing illegal immigrants problem and terrorist threats(But isn't it difficult to spot out "who an Indian is and who is not" even though strategically dealt?)Only time can prove the effectiveness of this project in curbing terrorism and security threats.
3.Controls corruption (the biggest evil gripping Indian society today) at Govt offices.
Bank transactions involving "big amount not matching salary" will be tracked.
4.It will help address the rigged state elections by rendering more transparent and efficient voting.
5.Serves as a tool to overcome red tapism in government offices.
Normal citizens will benefit by reduction of "yeh form do, woh form do" hassles - it is going to make Govt. transactions much simpler.We wouldn't have to stand in long queues,and grease our palms to get the work done.
(I hope it's not too early to imagine that India! Or is it, Mr. Nilekani?)
6.Helps providing huge database for planners to launch new schemes that can tackle several problems facing the country.
-
The other aspects are...
-
The cost involved in this project is a whopping Rs.1.5 lakh crore.Why not divert that amount to poverty and children malnutrition issues that are hindering our progress! Is this project worth the cost?
Poor individuals, especially women and other marginalized groups, rarely have legal proof of identity, address or employment.There are 75 million homeless people, tribals who don't have birth certificates, driver's license, passport,etc.Helping them getting an ID is actually empowering them.
Voter ID cards, PAN cards, SMART cards..how many more cards do we stuff in our wallet?
If a lot of sweat has been shed over implementing the PAN, why not extend the PAN to cover everyone!?Also,at present, roughly 80 per cent of India’s citizens have an electoral card.It can be easily expanded to convert into a master card for a specified set of purposes.
Many people have multiple PAN cards, many don't have a single one and the govt probably has a lot of distorted incomplete databases. So they are aiming at building a single database of every citizen of India which would enable people to receive the benefits they are entitled to.
This way,Unique ID is surely answer to India's many problems.
It is not necessary that corruption is limited to government-run organizations.Corruption is widespread in the private sector,too.What if this project just like any other project taken up before gets fouled up in course of time?
Judging just from the fact that Manmohan Singh picked a corporate maestro to head this project rather than a sycophant politician from the cabinet, he looks like he's looking for a clean, corruption-free delivery.Last but not least,Nandan Nilekani is famous for his ethics and values.(Hopefully no scams will be discovered in the future to rebut this)
-
Loopholes in this project are...
-How will it be able to reach people living in rural areas having no IT infrastructure?
Will the information in the database be safe or will it be a goldmine for hackers who can misuse it for various purposes?
“Functionality creep” can come about where the database can serve purposes other than its original intent. This is a legitimate concern to be addressed.
Looking at the population figure,enrolment and authentication of 1.16 billion people besides gaining ubiquity is certainly a mammoth task. No scheme on this scale has been undertaken anywhere in the world.Smaller and less ambitious systems have encountered substantial technological and operational problems that are likely to be amplified in a large-scale, national system.
Also,the technology envisioned for this scheme is, to a large extent, "untested and unreliable".This may create a range of new and unforeseen problems.
-
Transparency and Discussion is the need of the hour. I wish I had a chance to sneak into Mr.Nilekani's mind to know how his implementation plan actually looks like.
One can't expect it to do much to change the current rot in the Indian system and it is no panacea to the problems - but it can be seen as another system that can ease our lives,not transform it altogether.
All we can do is,be patient, settle at a mildly optimistic attitude and hope that for once, the execution of this project will be as good as it sounds.
Just assuming for a minute that this ear-pleasing government proposal does manage to show some notable results for a change alongside wiping out the loopholes, we have reason to celebrate, don't we?
Honestly, the size of this post seems to give a bird's eye view of the magnitude of this project! :D
ReplyDeleteAnd given the pessimism that looms large in my head, I wonder what would be the scenario if this project too goes the PAN card way. The nation will be split into haves and have-nots yet again, only this time, for non-materialistic reasons. Worse, the ones with no cards will only mean they have no identity, and eventually no home. It better be successful, for I cannot imagine the umbrage it's failure will bring about!
Hope (at least) this goose chase does not end up amidst the hyenas' hysterical laughter!