Bio-metric data----"to be" or "not to be"

"Aadhar" refers to collection of bio-metric data (photo of iris, and fingerprints) of individual citizens, to identify them with a unique number given in their identification cards. When Aadhar was first started by the UPA-II regime(previous government), it was not accepted by all. What are the uses of this number, it enabled citizens to get subsidized LPG, enabled unemployment benefits, it enabled food subsidies and funds for student loans etc.While the poor got subsidies, the middle class and the upper classes did not like it as it revealed too much of their personal data. Thus, many did not like it at all. Their objection was that the Aadhar scheme could  give the common law abiding citizen to major danger – primarily because, to get the Aadhar card, one must first disclose his all personal details to the government which then holds on to it forever. Any acquisition of property or wealth would bring him under direct radar of the government.

This means that by using Aadhar number, the central government was in a position to hold virtually anybody in ransom if and when it had to. Add to that the threats emanating from the bad elements in the society including the mafia could always lay their hands on the income tax returns of individuals.Data security is not there at all. A private company makes the data and there are no laws which prevents it from sharing it. The private company could always say, "we did not know about data leakage" All personal details of the individuals applying for Aadhar card are all available to private companies involved in the UID scheme, include some foreign companies. Sometimes foreign government can acquire it too.

Keeping in view of all the looming threats, a petition was filed in the Supreme court  against the government move to make Aadhar a mandatory choice to take advantage of various government schemes and subsidies. It was argued that Aadhar, in essence, was a violation of the fundamental rights of the citizens in addition to being a threat to sovereignty of the nation. The petition was admitted by the apex court and the matter, as of now, is subjudice. It is still under consideration, but bio-metric data is being collected, before  having authorization to collect it. The law says that only fingerprints of criminals could be collected, ordinary citizens' finger prints cannot be collected.

The apex court also made it clear in an interim order that it was not mandatory to be in possession of the Aadhar card to avail government subsidies. Despite that, commoners are still being asked to furnish their Aadhar details in order to get subsidies on LPG cylinder, bank accounts etc. Despite its validity being a subjudice matter, the government has already spent INR 8000 crore for pushing the Aadhar card to the masses – that too without the sanction of the Parliament. Before lawfully collecting data, it is collected.Is this not un-lawful?It is perplexing to know that government is "for" collection of bio-metric data from Indian population or "not for" collection of such data. Supreme Court has ruled that giving bio-metric data by individuals is not mandatory. But if one wants  to get ones pension and state benefits, one needs to give Aadhar number. As per Supreme Court, to get LPG subsidies, Aadhar is not compulsory. This is  so contradictory.The Supreme Court is most hopeful to go for an early hearing of the application filed by the centre seeking directions to use Aadhar card as the means to identify target people for different social welfare schemes.

Earlier the 3-judge bench declined to elucidate its August 11 order limiting Aadhar card usage to avail ration and LPG subsidy from PDS shops stating it would be heard by a constitution bench. Reacting to the bench’s observation, attorney general Mukul Rohatgi including important organisations of the states pleaded for an urgent hearing before a bench headed by CJI, H L Dattu.

The CJI said he would soon take a decision about constituting the 5-judge constitution bench. However, he made it clear that he was not in favor of setting a nine-judge constitution bench as pleaded by some parties involved in the case. The constitution of nine judges for Aadhaar would seriously affect the proceedings of other cases scheduled in the Apex Court.

The central governmant has made a representation before the Apex court that more than 90 crore people in India hold Aadhar card, and it would be easier to follow a one window identification mechanism to ensure the benefits of social welfare schemes reaching the target population.

 The Madhya Pradesh state government got orders from central government to make Aadhar number mandatory for people who want to take their provident fund and pension. The decision was made mandatory in three districts from January 1 which were Harda, Khandwa and Hoshangabad. The government is soon going to implement the scheme in all over the state. EPFO has already notified the people who come under these three districts that Aadhaar is mandatory if they wanted to get their pension and provident fund. Central government gave orders to the state government to collect the information of all the EPFO members and the pensioners and to link the bank accounts of the beneficiaries by December 31. The central government has asked the officials to setup new camps for collecting all this information.

Unique Identification Authority of India has decided to setup permanent Aadhaar enrollment centers in the state of Andhra Pradesh within a month. As per the reports it is estimated that near about 1400 camps will be set up in the entire state. The control of these centers is given to the IT department of Andhra Pradesh and the central common service will also support in smooth running of these enrollment centers. With the setting up of these enrollment centers people will be able to facilitate all the aadhaar card based services easily without any problem.

Recently a report was published which told that the details of the individuals which are collected through the enrollment process of Aadhaar are leaked to various third party companies without prior knowledge to the enrolled persons. Individual's data can be miss used. 
The photo above is not related to the topic. It is picture of a "step well" in the historic Red Fort in New Delhi

State of Indian economy is affecting the people

The fall of the Yen and war in Syria will soon have its effect on the Indian economy. It is difficult for the average Indian to survive the fluctuations of the market. Since there is joint family which pools the resources, there is some social security, which Indians enjoy.
On the whole, people of India,do have a tendency to migrate to greener pastures (outside India). But when they do migrate to a new land, their fundamental right to political freedom, right to choose their leader, is to some extent curtailed. But for survival, they must tolerate many constraints.
Democracy is a boon to India.While those citizens living India, right to vote is very useful to choose our leaders. But we do not have leaders who are good enough to rule. We have to tolerate uneducated leaders who divided people and create vote banks. There is a solution to problems of India and that is faster digitization. Massive crowds can be managed. Social security can be given because we have food security( good harvests) It has to reach the people. There is mismanagement on the part of the government.
We have good engineers and housing for the masses can be created. But red-tapism in Indian government prevents the creation of effective projects.Piped water must be provided, as it is the basic necessity.
 So over-all conditions are not conducive to development of the country. And to add to the woes, international exigencies like the war in the mid-East and world economy affect the Indian economy.
However Indian economy is, there is plenty of tourist spots in India, and you can enjoy India.Picture is not related to the topic.The photo is of Sher Mandal at the Old Fort in New Delhi. It was built by Sher Shah Suri in the 16 th Century, and Moghul king Humayun had fallen down from its stairs and had died here.There are many such places to visit in India

Can we rise from poverty

Trade Unions do not get the rights and they are constantly battling with the government.Those rights given cannot come into practice. And government itself does not treat its workers well. It does not give enough pay.It cuts pay for leave on illness.And it hardly gives health coverage. Minimum insurance coverage is insufficient.Indian workers are living on the edge....India is an experiment gone wrong.How to instill patriotic sentiments on people who are suffering. Without any support except themselves,people try to live out their lives.
Actually there is no need for policy on population control, government itself is terminating its people by not supporting them.People choose not to have children and are forced into live of poverty.
Raw capitalism is unchecked. Exploitation of the people is omnipresent.Although mass exodus is not there, migrations to urban areas is constantly going on. Rural life does not give a good way of life. In urban area, unskilled persons try to make a way of living. Probably as servants,rickshaw pullers, workers in factory etc, but they are given no rights.. Thousands arrive  as construction workers as carpenters, as iron smiths, as electricians as plumbers  and wait at crossroads in urban areas waiting for someone to hire them. And they are willing to work at any pay but do not get work. Many stay hungry and go to sleep. What does the government do for these workers? Nothing
When will this nightmare end? Can India rise from poverty with a non-caring government?

69 th Independence Day

Our 69th Independence day was celebrated, with speech by our Prime Minister.His oratory skills are impressive, he can put on the "accent" of the "ordinary" Indian.He has come up with several slogans describing his policies. But he has not spoken about his foreign policy considering the fact that he has toured 56 countries in last 15 months of his office. Most of the fifteen months he was away. Farmer suicides were high this year, but it is not talked about. He tells about dignity of labor and ID card for laborer. Labor reforms could not come about as labor laws are contradictory.He claims that corruption is zero in last 15 months, but it could be that it is hidden. He also says that its difficult to get rid of corruption. But "lokpal" has not come up and nothing is done on that.
In presenting the report card, he says that there are bank accounts for the poor and Jan Dhan yojna, and there are toilets in schools.He said that there will be loans for the tribals and "dalits". These remain in paper. And every MP was to adopt a village, but that was not done.
What is not done is not spoken of. And during the speech he says "I" did this and "I" did that. Instead of "we" remember that he was away for most of the 15 months touring the world. Although he talks about how he thinks of the poor, he is far away from the poor. And one speech in which he acts like the common man cannot tell the whole truth. IN the speech he tries very hard to touch on the lives of the poor,and to please them. May be he does.Let us see how the fate of India will be......

Freedom to be Indians

India India andBangladesh swapped land in Northere part of state of West bengal in a land mark agreement between both the countries. Maps are going to be re-drawn in the borders. New citizens of India celebrated on becoming Indians, they can have schools, colleges, hospitals, good roads and political power  with voting rights. They could not have had all these before. More than 1400 Bangladeshis got Indian citizenship. India and Bangladesh exchanged territories as per agreement. Soon a notification will be made in Gazette of India and new territory will be incorporated with India. After that these areas will get new pin-code by Indian Posts. People will get ration cards,,bank accounts and Aadhaar cards. And new roads will be made to connect with mainland India. 

Abdul Kalaam passed away

He was our best ex-President. He was dedicated scientist. He was a humble man. He believed in education and intellectual development. He was loved by all. We are sad

Due to rich poor dichotomy can a revolution come?

In India, there is a big gap between the rich and the poor. But this has been present all through history. And poor have lived with this. So a revolution cannot come due to differences( between classes--rich and poor)
In modern age, more changes have come.A middle class has emerged too.There seems to be anger towards this class. This is unreasonable. The middle class struggles to survive as the poor does. And this middle class is the educated class and is aware of changes in political scene.
The poor workers need to ally themselves with this middle class, if they want to be heard.
Recent trend is to tax the educated class(and not the rich capitalist class).And resentment seems to be rising, all have to be pleased.This is predictable.If the political class wants to survive, it must make favorable climate for the educated class.Because without its support, it cannot survive long.