Hi, Thanks.
Would you mind providing the link for the Draft Approach Paper? As regards waiting for the clarifications from the UIDAI, I do obviously share that position. Let's ask for and wait for those clarifications before offering any specific suggestions. In fact suggestions have at least partly got to be derivatives of those clarifications, strongly linked. Sukla 2010/1/24 karmayog.org <[email protected]> > reg. while your "understanding" must be very valuable in itself, the > point is that these clarifications must come from the UIDAI itself - yes, > of course -- so let's wait for that. > > reg. newborns, pl read the Draft Approach paper -- they have tried to > explain it there. > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* Sukla Sen <[email protected]> > *To:* karmayog.org <[email protected]> > *Cc:* [email protected] ; greenyouth<[email protected]> > *Sent:* Monday, January 25, 2010 10:19 AM > *Subject:* Re: Please give suggestions for UID - India's Unique Identity > Project > > Dear Vinay, > > Thanks for the quick reply. > And sorry for the slip on the website bit, which has understandably come up > rather recently, just last month, under considerable pressure from the > activists. > > Now as regards the clarifications, while your "understanding" must be very > valuable in itself, the point is that these clarifications must come from > the UIDAI itself - its authorised spokesperson. And displayed on its > official website. (The FAQ addresses only a few of these too sketchily. > There has got to be a slot for interaction, clarificatio) > > Any meaningful suggestions can be provided only on that basis. > > And a little bit of digression here. There is some obvious problem with > your "understanding" of "everyone". Would a newborn baby get the magic > number. When? > Your response that I anticipate would be at the time of registration of > birth. > Then, when too many births are unregistered, how? > And how about the biometric data? And other data. How frequently going to > be updated? > These are issues, I guess, cannot be responded to with single phrases. > > The UIDAI also must provide its estimates on initial costs, till the system > is made fully functional, and the recurring costs thereafter. > > There has got to be a FAQ section on the official website. > And also a slot for receipts of queries and feedbacks. And periodic > responses to those. > And this should have had been there without asking. > The absence tells its own story. > > This is being projected as a gigantic project without any parallel anywhere > else. And it is anticipated that it will have huge impacts on the lives of > (all) people - ranging from net-savvy to the illiterate destitute. > It must not be conducted in a hush-hush manner as regards its essentials > amidst the drumbeatings of cheap propaganda. > More so as apprehensions are also being publicly aired that is going to be > a huge "loot and scoot" scheme - being simply "unworkable" apart from being > profoundly "undesirable". > > Sukla > > P.S.: Here is the link to an interesting interview of Nandan Nilekani by > Karan Thapar: <http://beta.thehindu.com/opinion/interview/article19518.ece > >. > > 2010/1/22 karmayog.org <[email protected]> > >> * [My understanding in brackets.... vinay.... >> **www.karmayog.org/uid*<http://www.karmayog.org/uid> >> * ]* >> ** >> *From:* Sukla Sen <[email protected]> >> ** >> >> Dear Vinay, >> >> Thanks for the initiative. >> >> This is a project that, however, needs be outright opposed and scuttled >> for the reasons as enunciated below. >> >> Two Category of Indians >> Indian citizens may be divided into essentially two broad categories, >> a significant overlap zone notwithstanding. >> One, who are on the right side of the net-divide, and the other falling on >> the wrong side. >> Of course, there are significant gradations particularly within the latter >> category. More than one-third Indians, as per the latest official estimates, >> fall below the line called BPL (Below Poverty Line). In simpler terms they >> just manage to carry on, for a much shorter while than would have been >> otherwise possible, in utterly wretched conditions. And about one-third of >> Indians are "illiterate". The level of functional illiteracy is expected to >> be significantly higher. There is of course an obvious correlation between >> "poverty" and "illiteracy". >> >> The problems to be faced by those who are paupers, near-paupers, without >> any regular shelter etc., and functionally illiterate would be of a very >> different kind than from those who'd be responding to this questionnaire. >> That has got to be clearly acknowledged at the very outset. >> >> Feasibility Issue >> But before taking up the problems of these two (broad) categories, first >> let us look into the aspect of "feasibility". >> >> The sheer size of Indian population is enormous - just below 1.2 billion >> or thereabout, at the time of penning this note. >> Then there is the regular inflow and also deletion. >> About 70% live in villages. Significant sections of urbanites live in >> shanties and even on the roadsides. >> A large number of births take place at "home" without any state or >> institutional interventions. >> As a consequence, the current rate of birth registration is understandably >> low. The official position is : "Despite having the registration of birth & >> death compulsory under the statute [for the last 4 decades, and no less], >> the level of registration of births and deaths under the Act has continued >> to be far from satisfactory in several states/UTs." >> That should give us a glimpse, just a glimpse though, into the enormity of >> the tasks that the UID project would entail. >> >> *Actual Experience* >> While our experiences, in terms of accuracies, with the PAN card, the >> passport or the driving license, setting aside the issue of procedural >> complexities and hassles, are quite satisfactory; in case of the ration >> cards things dip. And with election ID cards, which is the nearest possible >> approximation today in terms of numbers covered, is quite appalling. >> And then the issue of non-registration. >> >> Implications of Inaccuracies >> While inaccuracies in election IDs hardly affect our daily lives, we just >> don't bother. >> Things would be quite different in case of the UID number and related data >> entry. It'd have serious implications. Difficult to estimate in the absence >> of proper info. >> >> Impact on the Wretched of India >> Even a "perfect" system, one will find extremely baffling. And >> consequently will be unable to handle. Quote the number as and when >> required, even if manages to obtain one. >> That could have serious implications turning one into a non-citizen and >> the very existence criminalised thereby. Given the pattern of relationship >> between the state (functionaries) and the "people" that obtain - the level >> of corruption and highhandedness, life may just turn an unending nightmare >> with gory exploitations and humiliations. >> >> Without near-universal functional literacy backed up by strong community >> network and support, things could just turn horrific depending upon the >> scope of coverage/applicability of the UID number. >> >> And if things become horrifying for a sizable number of our people, others >> cannot but be affected if not today at least tomorrow. >> In any case, such a situation is morally impermissible. >> >> Impact on Netizens >> Here the main issues are: privacy, data security and identity theft. >> >> *Loss of Privacy* >> From a lay person's point of view, one would find the very idea of the big >> brother/sister all the while snooping over the shoulder is extremely >> uncomfortable. >> Even if the stored data are "absolutely" secure, one does not not know how >> many state, and even non-state, agencies would have access to one's data. >> And, at the end of the day, these agencies are constituted of human >> individuals. What sort of legitimate, and illegitimate, use they will make >> of such info. And what inconveniences and threats such "legitimate" access >> to data would entail. >> On this issue, for a detailed discussion: < >> http://www.hrdc.net/sahrdc/hrfeatures/HRF169.htm>. >> >> *Data Security and Identity Theft* >> There is no electronic data storage system on this earth which is immune >> to hacking or illegitimate access, through designs, and at times even >> through accidents and errors. Even the military data of the most powerful >> states get broken into. >> As long as these private data are dispersed and patchy, the damages are >> usually somewhat limited. As is the case with credit cards. But more the >> use, higher is the threat level. As in case of online purchases. >> And when there will be a wealth of data pooled together, the damages could >> be astounding. >> In the extreme case of identity theft, well beyond crippling financial >> losses, one may even face charges of crimes committed by someone else. >> >> *An Illustrative but Realistic Joke as regards Loss of Privacy* >> * >> * >> * >> >> What Nandan Nilekani can do by his "Fully integrated ID card system" >> >> Operator : "Thank you for calling Pizza Hut . May I have your..." >> Customer: "Heloo, can I order.." >> Operator : "Can I have your multi purpose ID card number first, Sir?" >> Customer: "It's he., hold..on.889861356102049998-45-54610" >> Operator : "OK... You're... Mr Singh and you're calling from 17 Jal Vayu. >> Your home number is 22678893, your office 25076666 and your >> mobile is09869798888. Which number are you calling from now Sir?" >> Customer: "Home! How did you get all my phone numbers? >> Operator : "We are connected to the system, Sir" >> Customer: "May I order your Seafood Pizza..." >> Operator : "That's not a good idea Sir" >> Customer: "How come?" >> Operator : "According to your medical records, you have high blood >> pressure and even higher cholesterol level Sir" >> Customer: "What?... What do you recommend then?" >> Operator : "Try our Low Fat Pizza. You'll like it" >> Customer: "How do you know for sure?" >> Operator : "You borrowed a book entitled "Popular Dishes" from the >> National Library last week Sir" >> Customer: "OK I give up... Give me 3 family size ones, how much will that >> cost?" >> Operator : "That is enough for your family of 05, Sir. The total is Rs >> 500.00" >> Customer: "Can I pay by! Credit card?" >> Operator : "I'm afraid you have to pay us cash, Sir. Your credit card is >> over the limit and you owe your bank Rs 23,000.75 since October.That's not >> including the late payment charges on your housing loan, Sir.." >> Customer: "I guess I have to run to the neighbourhood ATM and withdraw >> some cash before your guy arrives" >> Operator : "You can't Sir. You've reached daily limit on machine >> withdrawal today" >> Customer: "Never mind. I'll have the cash ready. How long it takes >> anyway?" >> Operator : "About 45 minutes Sir, but if you can't wait you can always >> come and collect it on your Nano Car..." >> Customer: " What!" >> Operator : "According to the details in system ,you own a Nano >> car,...registration number GZ-05-AB-1107.." >> Customer: " ????" >> Operator : "Is there anything else Sir?" >> Customer: "No. Aren't you giving me that 3 free bottles of cola as >> advertised?" >> Operator : "Normally yes Sir, but based on your records you're also >> diabetic....... " >> Customer: #$$^%&$...@$% ^ >> Operator : "Better watch your language Sir.. Remember on 15th July 2010 >> you were convicted of using abusive language on a policeman...?" >> Customer Faints >> * >> >> Beyond Joke >> The utterly disturbing aspect here is that the project head while >> tirelessly drumbeating about his grand vision, and magical potentials, >> shares very little about the actual details of the project. >> >> *We must immediately ask for the following details: [My understanding in >> brackets.... vinay.... www.karmayog.org/uid ]* >> *1. Whether there will be a physical card or just a number in the virtual >> world? [number]* >> *2. How many are going to be covered? Whether **everyone**? [everyone]* >> *3. If so, what is the definition of **everyone**? Any criteria in terms >> of age, location etc.? [everyone means everyone -- no criteria]* >> *4. The onus lies with whom? The state or the individual? [state]* >> *5. Implications for individual in case of having, and also not having, >> the number/card? [that's what this discussion is about]* >> *6. What info would be obtained and stored and how? Who'd oversee the >> data? Basic outlines of the "security" system? [UIDAI's responsibility]* >> *7. Who get to access? State agencies and private players? [all who need >> it as mandated by the govt. they can't access info as you seem to imply.] >> * >> *8. What safeguards against misuse by those who "legitimately" access the >> data? [that's what this discussion is also for]* >> *9. What is the time frame? [long -- first batch of numbers in 12 - 18 >> months. Bihar seems to be most responsive govt as most migrate out and have >> hassles when elsewhere.]* >> *10. How data updating will be done? [should not be needed. your UID will >> be for life.]* >> *11. What will be the review procedures for the project? Details of >> projected pilots, if any? * >> >> >> While the project head, with the more than enthusiastic backing of an over >> obliging media, never tires of drumbeating about his grand visions and >> potentials to function as a miracle worker, he remains too secretive about >> specific details of the project. >> *It is just astounding that the UIDA apparently does not have any website >> of its own! [It does -- It's ** **http://uidai.gov.in/*<http://uidai.gov.in/> >> * ]* >> There are strong apprehensions that this is a mega ploy, a huge hoax, >> devised to help mega loot by the IT companies. Not excluding the one with >> which the project head is identified with! >> >> *Till these info are provided, publicly displayed and discussed in a >> structured manner, there must not be any move towards implementing this >> project and any sizable funds from the national exchequer be spent on it. >> * >> * >> * >> Sukla Sen >> EKTA (Committee for Communal Amity), Mumbai >> Peace Is Doable >> [email protected] >> > > > > -- > Peace Is Doable > -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB.
