Aadhaar may be held by some context-free individuals who possibly live in a vacuum to be a malintent inspired breach of privacy, but a rational and prudent assessment of the need for this national databank will make it clear that it has the potential to become the axis point of good governance. The Aadhaar database, if prepared with best processing and accessibility mechanisms complete with futuristic features, can make the actualisation of good governance an instant possibility. Activists and anti-establishment minded citizens may oppose what is in their view is the overreach of Aadhaar initiatives in various fields of administration, characterizing them as being intrusive, but challenges before modern governance and the welfare state not only necessitates Aadhar but have made it a survival compulsion to opt for and optimize such technology-driven innovations to realize good governance.
The envisaged spread of Aadhaar is very much for the common good and in the public interest as the Government is trying to link all subsidies, scholarships, mid-day meals, lPG distribution and pension schemes among others to it. There are also various programmes on Aadhaar-enabled platforms to avoid leakages and corruption, to reach out to target groups. For example, the Government's direct benefit transfer model is, perhaps, one of the best models in the world to rationalize various benefits to be delivered to targeted sections of society, thereby saving tax-payer money. Saving public money is equivalent to the generation of revenue without taxes and consequent stoppage of inflationary dynamics.
National security definitely requires adoption of Aadhaar-enabled platforms in various Constitutional activities including the electoral process. The election card (EPIC) and Aadhaar card should be integrated. Anyone casting his or her vote must get a one-time password (OTP) on his/her mobile phone to be doubly sure that his/her vote has not been cast by anyone else. This will reduce bogus voting and improve effectiveness of the democratic process. Besides, no mobile phone number should be made operational until and unless it is linked with the Aadhaar card and auto OTP detection features with all related mobiles to ensure the bunching of different numbers of the same owner with his Aadhaar card. Fake mobile numbers are a new challenge to national security. In addition to the above, certain features may also be added in the Aadhaar system to make it more useful to the owners of Aadhaar cards. Aadhaar may also have DNA profiles of people to be much more useful in medical emergencies and accidents, for example.
It is also a fact that a lot of unidentified dead bodies are found in our country. And the police remain clueless regarding culprits/murderers as the bodies remain unidentified. Many bodies are found in a decomposed condition so much so that their faces or other parts offer no clue with regards to their identification. Sometimes, murderers plan it like that so they remain unidentified and can go scot-free. If we improve features of Aadhaar card, to include DNA profiles, it can do wonders to make the identification process simpler. In many cases we can do identification on the basis of the fingerprint database if dead bodies do have proper fingerprints intact. Security agencies may be mandated to have access to this data under strict supervision to be able to crack such cases.
Besides, many children go missing. If Aadhaar is made compulsory at birth itself, kids may get reunited with their parents once they attain majority as they will know their past while applying to make a fresh Aadhaar card as adults. The Aadhaar card will automatically link them with their previous information stored in a central database. Thousands of such children may not remember their parents due to early childhood separations but Aadhaar will definitely unite them.
Thus, Aadhaar has a lot to do with enhancing national and individual security. One common perception that is aired frequently is that Aadhaar violates privacy. This apprehension may necessitate some database security features and protocols but it does not lessen the importance and requirement of an Aadhaar card. We should not throw the baby out with the bath water. Already, our DNAs and fingerprints are in the public domain, why should we be scared with regard to loss of such unique identity indicators being integrated to Aadhaar dynamicsIJ
It is unfair to question Aadhaar on the basis of manufactured excuses. If someone wants to use the so called-data s/he can use it from open domains with impunity. For example, when we test our blood in labs or go to saloons for a hair-cut, our information with regard to DNA can be easily stolen if someone is really interested in intruding into our privacy. When we go to a restaurant to have a cup of coffee, our fingerprints are on the cup, which too can easily be misused be someone so minded. Besides, our passports have all our information including biometrics and these are in the hands of private players store our data abroad, so why should we be scared by a due process-driven, Government-assured databaseIJ The data stored with the Unique Identification Authority of India needs to be liberally utilized for legal purposes and criminal investigations, it can be a tool of national development and good governance, and it will enhance national security. It is going to be a panacea for poorly governed India.
Of course, data use should be made available according to defined procedures and only by the competent authorities for the public interest under established procedures by law. Apprehensions of misuse, as expressed, seems to be founded on incorrect facts and have no relevance with regard to any threat to life and liberty including privacy.
(The writer is an IPS officer in Delhi Police)