An Aadhaar card is a unique
twelve digit identification number issued to every citizen in India and is
a centralized and universal identification number. The Aadhar
card is a biometric card that stores an individual's personal details in a
government database, and is fast becoming the government's base for public
welfare and citizen services.
The government has most effectively shown the benefits of
ADHAR by successfully using it to weed out fake beneficiaries of state largess
and channelize our meager resources to those who need it most. The
government uses the Aadhar network in order to ensure that individuals who
require assistance and benefits gain access to these resources directly,
eliminating the need for middlemen. As part of this process, it is gradually
linking all essential government services and benefits schemes to the Aadhaar
network, creating a centralised database through which it can distribute and
keep track of the various schemes and programmes it runs along with the
beneficiaries.
The Aadhar card is a very versatile card and can be used as
proof of identity, proof of address as well as proof of age when applying for
any government service. Issues like acquiring passport, opening bank accounts,
getting digital life certificates, receipt of monthly pension, disbursing
provident fund and LPG subsidy can all be done by this single card. The linking
of Adhar card to PAN card will now help the nation tackle the problem of
multiple PAN cards issued under a single name. Thus benami transactions will be
difficult.
But there is the other face of ADHAR too, that cannot be
ignored.
This is the current conundrum bothering the Supreme Court.
The dangers of Aadhaar/UIDAI isn't about privacy or data
security alone. It is far bigger. It is about how much power you as an
individual, surrender to the government.
To those who support Aadhaar and/or the government, indulge
me for a moment. Imagine, and I repeat imagine, for a moment that there is an
anti-BJP or Congress government at the Centre or worse, an Army general who
manages a coup and then declares an Emergency. The last time it happened,
opposition leaders, including LK Advani or George Fernandes went underground.
They masked their identity, travelled across the country, raised money and
garnered people’s support for their activities against the government. None of
this will be possible any more.
Under such a circumstance, just switching off your cell
phone won’t be sufficient to avoid the government tracking you down. Thanks to
Aadhaar, you won’t be able to withdraw money or make any transaction using even
a debit card. The government is linking Aadhaar to train tickets and boarding
passes. You won’t be able to travel.
Being a centralized database, it just takes a few seconds to
switch off your Aadhaar authentication. That can deny you your own money, deny
you any movement, deny you any form of communication. You can’t hide behind an
alias. It is linked to your biometrics. The government doesn’t need to even
arrest you. It can just deny your existence in a matter of few seconds. You
aren’t dead, but you can be termed dead in a matter of few seconds. You can be
Switched Off!
As databases get more and more linked – property cards, tax
filings, joint bank accounts, school admissions, - it takes another few seconds
to identify your family members. And extend the same denial of existence to
your family, friends or anyone who you have done any relationship with. Switch
them off!
Such acts don’t even require a declaration of Emergency. A
Facebook post that isn’t liked by someopne powerful enough can trigger this in
a matter of moments. Switch Off.
The problem with Aadhaar is that it is centralized, and it
owns you. You don’t have access to your own trail or data, but someone else has
unilateral access to you, anytime. And it stores data, for seven years or even
more. No law is sufficient. Aadhaar shouldn’t exist.
We don’t need rights or protection for Achhe Din. Rights and
protection are meant for the bad times. But it is during the good times, it is
important to not lose sight of how bad times can be and what we need to protect
about ourselves.
The likes of Nandan Nilekani are now saying that is a
security issue and then point fingers at Android, iOS or Facebook which too
owns a lot of our data. It isn’t similar Sir. None of them have executive
powers over me. I have some notional ability to delete them, sign off. They
can’t Switch me Off. His argument is akin to saying – “look, we have built a
grand, free house for you to live in. Yes, the columns of the house aren’t
strong enough, but hey, there are other houses in towns that also have weak
columns.” Sir, with all due respect, you should have built protection first
before giving birth to a Frankenstein.
It's Big Brother is watching you scenario from Orwell. But I
do not doubt the intentions of this government. It is just that they have not
thought it through and they will have to do a lot of homework. I am sure there
will be checks and balances but I as a citizen and a voter need to know all
about them. Right now this looks like a knee jerk reaction against the rampant
corruption of the previous government......But has the pendulum swung too far!
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