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Aadhar -- should be developed as an unique ID for Indian citizens on the lines of SSN in US. Then, all other IDs can be done away with. Everything can be linked with Aadhar -- like Voter IDs (which is now stopped because of Supreme Court ruling), DLs, etc.. 

Govt. didn't have the foresight when AADHAR was issued (or deliberately left loopholes for political gains) to fix legal/constitutional issues.

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Techdirt has been following India's construction of the world's largest biometric database, called Aadhaar, since July 2015. Concerns include the fact that what was billed as a voluntary system has been morphing into a compulsory one, and evidence that Aadhaar simply can't cope with real-life biometrics. Undeterred, the Indian government wants to expand the system even further by opening it up for use by companies, as the Wall Street Journal reports.

- - - Without adequate privacy protection, the system seems ripe for abuse, both by unscrupulous companies targeting hapless consumers, and by state organizations, which might use it as a powerful surveillance tool. If the Indian government wants to become a world leader in using biometric-based digital identity for its citizens, as the Wall Street Journal article suggests, it should make crafting effective privacy protection laws a priority.

To read the full text of the report, click here.

I'd like to believe that correctives as may be required can be effected; but, I don't know.

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This is a article written in 2009 but has useful information on Security Challenges and Privacy issues.

Courtesy - Infosecurity

UID Project – Security Challenges and Privacy Issues

Some Excerpts from this column.

Need for UID

In India, we have different methods of identifying and verifying individuals; it is either done through a PAN card, passport, driving licence, ration card, voters’ ID card, LIC policy or even a letter from the Gram Panchayat or corporator. Any of these identification documents could also have varying information, which then leads to irregularity. The lack of a standardised method of identification is apparent. Hence, there is a need for unique identification of every individual. It is being created in such a manner that it is applicable across all sectors, and is recognised as a standard proof of identity. It is being designed to be unique so that nobody is able to duplicate or misuse it.

What is UID?

To put it simply, UID is a unique 16 digit number that is assigned to each individual in our billion-plus population, which will be used to identify the person for all interactions he or she will have with any public body, regulatory authority or law-enforcement agency. It will work much like social security numbers do in the United States, except that UID will be more wide-ranging. The UID along with the biometric data, will serve as a conclusive proof of identity across India, making it unnecessary for any citizen to carry multiple documentation from a variety of government agencies. It can be used while traveling, opening a bank account, getting a telephone connection, voting in elections and so on.

For more Read Here

A very well articulated and covers all aspects of UID specially the security and privacy issues. Most importantly it also suggests the safegaurds to be employed for each of the concerns.

As author points out " ...The concerns mentioned in this article do not necessarily mean that India’s planned UID program is not heading in the proper direction. But they signal a need for oversight to protect the privacy and equality rights of India’s citizens from the inherent security risks of a national database containing sensitive personal and biometric information..."

This is how  we need to address the issues without having to get influenced by ideological differences. Definitely not by getting hysterical and paranoid.

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"...On Saturday, even as it was still dawning on most Bangaloreans that the much-awaited date to enrol for the Unique Identification Card (UID) or Aadhaar had finally arrived, 71-year-old Lata Idnani was already making her way to HAL II Stage post office. In the event, she became the first Bangalorean to complete Aadhar formalities..."

"..At the post office, mother and son were very impressed by the way things were run, and said they had never seen government employees who were so helpful and did their jobs with so much interest. “Those people were already in place by 7.30 am. After filling up the form, we had to get back in the queue once again to get the scans done. I am old and I had trouble with the scanning machine. The lady at the counter helped me,” Lata explained..."

Courtesy - Bangalore Mirror

http://www.bangaloremirror.com/article/10/2011062720110627054523320cbe057da/Sprightly-71yrold-woman-is-first-off-the-UID-mark.html

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The security agency, whose two security guards at Cubbon Park raped a 30-year-old woman on Wednesday, hired them without any background checks.

Confirming it, Mahantesh Murugod, deputy director, horticulture department, Cubbon Park, said, “No proper background checks of the guards were done by the outsourced company.”

According to the police, 24 security guards, employed by Pawan Security Agency,  work in three shifts in the park. They are paid `8,000 per month, and they work for  other companies after duty hours to make more money.

A senior police official said, “As per the norms, a security agency has to take the permission of the internal security department of the state. Only then will a licence be issued to it. Later, the company has to get an NOC (no objection certificate) of the employee from his town  and should produce it before the respective jurisdictional police where he works. The local police have to communicate with the police from where the employee hails from and check his background. The job aspirant will have to produce copies of both these NOCs to the employer. Only then can the employer consider hiring the person. But in this specific case, we will ascertain as to whether the background of these employees was verified after we receive the medical reports of the victim.”

“If it is found that the hiring agency has not checked the antecedents of the guards, we will write a letter to the internal security wing asking it to suspend the licence of the company.”

A security guard who was on duty said, “One person from Bihar has been working with Pawan Security Agency since two years. He has earned the trust of the company executives. He brings human resources from Assam, Bihar and other parts. No police background check was done when we joined here.”

For the full text of the report (emphasis added by me) in the New Indian Express, click here.

Given the complexities involved, and the overall capacity limitations of the police force, is it even conceivable that this job can be undertaken at all? Which necessarily means that nobody is doing it, or, if someone is claiming to be doing it, it's got to be largely an eye-wash. But, more and more, it's becoming essential. And, the only way it can be done is through Aadhaar, and thereby the need for regularising it.

Well, it can be voluntary. But, those not prepared to submit themselves to the scheme, should be prepared to miss out on vaious benefits/ opportunities available to what has now become the mainstream.

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