500 words analysis on any public policy
Aadhaar, the brand name of a 12-digit unique identification number which the Unique Identification
Authority of India (UIDAI) setup for purpose of issuing to all citizens the sole and unique document of valid identity. Much like USA’s Social Security Number, the Aadhar was set up to duplicate the system in the United States in order to facilitate welfare programmes to reach intended beneficiaries and serve as basis for e-governance in banking, insurance and such other value-added services. There certainly have been crosshairs of argumentation about the inception, feasibility and desirability of the scheme. Talking about pros, Aadhaar will facilitate ‘anytime, anywhere, anyhow’ authentication to its beneficiary. Aadhaar will be a single source of identity verification. Hence, Easy Identification.
Secondly, it would facilitate Direct Benefit transfer. This adds to the BJP government’s initiative to work towards creating a social welfare scheme, including accidental, health, senior citizen welfare schemes, through the JAM Trinity. This in-turn would better target the PDS. Thirdly, Duplication at all points can be eliminated. For instance, the Election Commission is planning to link Voter ID to Aadhar doing away with the problem of multiplicity. Also over a crore ghost LPG gas connections were weeded out when it was linked with Aadhaar. Thirdly, this would remove multiplicity of documents and smoothen processes from opening a bank account link all accounts - total money in public view hence aim to curb black money, though not entirely and eventually help in doing away with cash/ digital wallet. In eventuality removal of all documents like Voters ID, PAN, passport, ration card , drivers license etc.
Now as with any public policy, there are cons attached to the same. There are pitfalls in the operationalisation. It needs universal coverage, it’s stick lacking, needs time, money and infrastructure. The UK Government while discarding its proposed ‘national identity scheme’ concluded that “ technology envisioned for this scheme is to a large extent untested and the unreliable. 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 If they could not operationalize the scheme,
”.
are we to believe that it would not be true of India?
Aadhar though might be projected to have been set up with the noblest intentions, it’s far from reality. Elimination of the middleman as per the concept of branchless banking has not really eliminated the Banking Correspondents, present on a transaction-commission basis, there are for-profit companies running BCs in the rural areas.
All devices need to be upgraded to link with Aadhaar by matching the fingerprint. It’s in parallel to
NPR (National Population Register). Now Because Aadhaar account is equal to citizenship, migrants too would be getting UID hence legitimizing them and will encourage migration.
Concerns of data theft, privacy getting impacted have created a trust deficit between citizens and the authority stemming from the scare of being misused. Again highlighting the big brother character of the government the Cost-Benefit analysis of the project has not been done. It’s not in public view atleast. All arguments and counter-arguments indicate that there is no indispensability of Aadhaar.
We need to revisit the necessity of the scheme and public opinion needs to be taken into account.
Rishabh Dhall