In the first phase, UID roll out will start for 3 states and UT Andaman and
Nicobar. The second phase covers another 6 major states including UP and
Maharastra. There is no clarity as far as the other states go, including the
capital
Not many would be aware that UPA governments ambitious project was a
brainchild of AB Vajpayees NDA government. The project, however, was put on the
backburner for reasons unknown. But 26/11 changed all that and more. After the
attack, demands for issuing identity cards to valid Indian citizens gained
momentum in order to prevent a repetition of the terror attack.
The Unique Identification Database Authority of India (UIDAI) was therefore
established with the government sanctioning Rs 1,900 crore in the 2010-11
budget. In the 13th Finance Commission Report, it was proposed that an incentive
of Rs 100 per person (effectively Rs 400-500 per family) would be adequate for
incentivizing citizens below the poverty line to register for the UID. The
Finance Commission, therefore, recommended a grant of Rs 2,989.10 crore to be
given to the state governments.
The main aim of the Unique ID system was to eliminate duplicate identity for
improving the delivery of government services to the 1.2 bn residents.
In line with the governments agenda to issue the first set of UID numbers by
the next year, the UIDAI has signed MoUs with three state governments: Madhya
Pradesh (which incidentally was the first state to have signed the MoU), Andhra
Pradesh, and Karnataka.
The role of the state government will be to work as registrars of UIDAI for
collecting biometric samples like thumb impression or cornea configuration of
each individual. The project will ensure transparency in all kinds of financial
transactions and financial inclusion even in the remotest corner.
In the first phase, UID roll out will start for 3 states and UT Andaman and Nicobar. The second phase covers another 6 major states including UP and Maharastra. There is no clarity as far as the other states go, including the capital |
Status Quo
Even as Nandan Nilekani has been quoted in media reports saying that people
will start getting their UID numbers from February next year, the pilot project
for collection of biometric samples has already been rolled out in Andhra
Pradesh. Reports suggest the rolling out of the pilot project in other states
including Jharkhand, Bihar and New Delhi from later this year.
In Andhra Pradesh meanwhile, enrollment of biometric sample collection has
begun in eight districts in a Proof of Concept (PoC) exercise. Patancheru of
Medak district and Vijayawada urban were identified under the urban category.
The enrollment is being taken up as part of benchmarking the biometric standards
as part of the UID project.
The PoCs will evaluate the technical, operational and behavioral challenges
of enrolling biometrics of the residents. About 10 to 30 lakh residents would be
given Unique ID cards by enrolling their biometrics in the pilot project that
follows the PoC in the state.
The UIDAI has chosen Hyderabad based 4G Identity Solutions for evaluating and
benchmarking the standards of biometrics, as well as for the whole enrolment
exercise.
Identifying the MoU Objective
While the state governments would like to improve upon the efficiency of the
delivery of government services (through correct identification of
beneficiaries), and to also put in place uniform standards and processes for the
verification and identification of beneficiaries; the role of UIDAI will be to
establish standards for enrollment which are to be uniformly followed by all
registrars. The UID numbers will only be issued by the agency after
verifying that the resident does not already have a record and a number in the
UID database apart from providing online, real-time authentication service.
The ambitious UID project will be implemented in a phased manner with the
UIDAI responsible for conducting PoCs and undertaking pilot project for testing
the working of technology and process of enrollment.
Anantpurs UID Journey | ||||
UIDAI admits that NGOs will be a crucial link for them if they have to reach to the last mile. Thus, the association is seeking active alliances with the NGOs working in remote districts. Social Education and Development Society (SEDS) is one such NGO. It works in the drought-prone area of Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh.
SEDS together with its IT partner, Wolf Frameworks, have rolled out proof SEDS tied up with Wolf Frameworks, a cloud computing platform company, Currently, this database is being used with select access by SEDS, but Ghosh says, The whole application was done in less than Rs 2.5 lakh, and The bandwidth will be a critical consideration for the rural UID |
For rolling out the UID project, each of the three states on their part have
set up state level committees. The UID project will partner with state
governments and related agencies leveraging their existing infrastructure; the
agencies will be addressed as the registrars of UIDAI.
Role of UIDAI, States
The MoU document clearly states that as the nodal body, UIDAI shall develop
and prescribe standards for recording data fields, data verification and
biometric fields in addition to prescribing the enrollment process including the
process for collection of biometric data and prescribing the criteria to be
fulfilled for an agency to be appointed as a registrar.
In addition, the UIDAI will also prescribe protocols for various activities;
right from transmission of data collected for de-duplication to protocols for
ensuring confidentiality and data security. The UIDAI would also be vested with
the power to conduct periodic audits for the registrar offices and enrollment
agencies.
To avoid duplication of data, the process of de-duplication of the resident
database will also be done on the basis of demographic and biometric data
collected. The UID numbers will only be issued to those whose uniqueness of
identity has been established and after ensuring that the person has not
enrolled in the UID database before.
The UIDAI will also issue a letter of communication to the concerned resident
with the UID number after de-duplication has been done. It will also communicate
the UID number electronically in the prescribed format.
Establishing the authentication of the identity of a person with a UID number
as per the protocols will be done by UIDAI. As the core body for issuing UID
numbers, the protocols for record keeping and maintenance of information
collated for the issuance of the UID number will also be done by UIDAI. Even the
prescribed software that will be used for the enrollment in the UID database
will also have to be approved by the UIDAI.
UIDAIs Resources | ||||
UID Registrar | Primary Access | Additional Access | Potential Overlap | Effective Enrollment |
Crore Residents | ||||
LPG (Oil PSU) | 8.4 | 16.8 | 20% | 20.2 |
LIC | 13.5 | 13.5 | 50% | 13.5 |
PAN Cards | 4 | - | 75% | 1 |
6 | - | 80% | 1.2 | |
Urban Enrollment | 35.9 | |||
Lic | 3.5 | 3.5 | 90% | 0.7 |
NREGA | 10 | 20 | 10% | 27 |
BPL Ration cards | 7 | 21 | 60% | 11.2 |
State BPL/APL | 50% | 30 | ||
Old Age Pensioners | 15 | 45 | 70% | 0.8 |
Women/ Child Welfare | 1.5 | 1 | 70% | 0.9 |
Social Welfare | 1 | 2 | 70% | 0.5 |
RSBY | 1 | 2 | 70% | 72 |
Rural Enrollment | 0.5 | 1 | 107.9 | |
Total Enrollment (Urban+Rural) | ||||
Source- UIDAI |
And last but most importantly, UIDAI will also prescribe mechanisms for
grievance redressal.
The state government on its end will of course, collaborate with UIDAI in
conducting PoC studies and identifying registrars on the basis of the criteria
prescribed by UIDAI, and also ensure that the appointed registrars do everything
that is required to effectively complete the PoCs and pilot projects.
The state agencies will be responsible for putting in place an institutional
mechanism to oversee and monitor the UID project implementation, and monitor
specifically the registrars and enrolling agents.
Apart from providing logistics and liaison support to the staff and UIDAI
representatives on visits to the registrar office and enrolling agencies; the
state level committees will also have to collaborate with the deputy director
general of UIDAI to implement the project.
The committees will also work with the UIDAI to resolve on-ground
difficulties and conflicts pertaining to the project and follow the process set
out by UIDAI for conflict resolution. And most importantly, the state government
will be responsible for providing the required financial assistance and other
resources to registrars for carrying out the enrollment process as per the
phasing decided by the state.
The Registrars Role
The registrars, who are the state agencies working directly with UIDAI, will
be responsible for either doing the enrollment directly or through the
enrollement agencies which in turn will be identified and appointed by the
registrars.
The registrars will also have to follow the prescribed standards for data
fields, data verification and biometric fields and the enrollment process for
citizens including the process for collection of biometric cards issued. They
would also adhere to the processes put in place by UIDAI for data transmission
collected for de-duplication, follow protocols for record keeping and
maintenance, maintain the confidentiality and follow security protocols.
Registrars would also have to allow the UIDAI officials for undertaking
periodic audit of the enrollment process as well as inspect offices of both the
registrars and enrollment agencies. They have to also submit periodic reports of
enrollment to UIDAI.
The registrars have been permitted to collect any data in addition to what
has been prescribed by UIDAI for the purpose of rendering any service based on
the UID number. They would also have the option to charge fees for the UID
service, however, the fee charged cannot be higher than what has been allowed.
Stuti Das
With inputs from Mehak Chawla
stutid@cybermedia.co.in