[Reader-list] Survey of the spectrum of arguments regarding MNIC as they exist in the public domain followed by questions.(1998-2004)

[Taha Mehmood]

Correction regarding the last question:

Is the procedure for arriving at those estimates correct?


On Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 10:25 PM, Taha Mehmood
<2tahamehmood at googlemail.com>wrote:

>  Dear All, Dear Yosuf,
>
> Many thanks for providing the context for your anecdote and forwarding the
> links to various news stories on the issue of infiltration and security on
> the Indian Border. I think these stories are important for all us because
> they indicate a far more systemic failure on part of our organizations to do
> their job properly.
>
> I wonder why is political class of our country hell bent for the last seven
> years to create a particular perception of fear and insecurity and dole
> National Identity Card as the sole solution?
>
> Having said that I certainly don't want to go in for a
> -blame-the-politician- argument for our social ills, because certainly
> terrorist attacks happen, people get killed, and ordinary citizens live
> precarious lives, but insofar as the issue of Multiple Purpose National
> Identity is concerned, the consensus building exercise for the issuance of
> the card seems to tread multiple lines of argument which in my rather
> limited opinion are as follows-
>
> 1. The Starting point- Kargil War occurs-for which intrusion is
> blamed-fencing of border areas is peddled as a solution(spatial insulation
> argument)-plus distribution of identity cards is forwarded as a second
> option (social containment argument).
>
> This argument is largely forgotten insofar as popular news media and
> political commentators are concrened. I wonder why there is not even a
> mention of it now?
>
> Premise seems to be that MINC will alleviate intrusion of all illegal
> foreigners.
>
> 2. 'Terror' Strikes- Islamic 'terrorists' blamed-since one cannot
> differentiate between a Pakistani Muslim from a Bangladeshi Muslim from an
> Indian Muslim from an Indian Hindu, identification of all people is peddled
> as a solution- (Separating wheat from the chaff argument)
>
> Premise seems to be that 'Good' Muslims would be separated from 'Bad'
> Muslims.
>
> 3. Public Distribution System- Redistribution of moneis to the poor-the
> corruption within the system is blamed- inefficiency of numbers and the
> uncertainty of the identity of the beneficiary is blamed- distribution of
> identity card is again peddled as a solution. (just distribution argument)
>
> Premise seems to be that corruption in the system will be routed out.
> Distribution will be just.
>
> 4.Population- Conducting Decennial census is a thing of the past- old mind
> set is blamed- inefficient data collection is blamed- the national identity
> card centers will collect data on a real time basis is peddled as a
> solution. (Modernity argument, catching up with the West argument)
>
> Premise seems to be that with real time data correct policies will be
> formed with respect social and spatial aspects of the country and that there
> will be no illegal immigrants.
>
> 5. Voter- The photo voter identity card is a failure- ease of forging of
> documents is blamed- inefficiency of government agencies is processing
> voter information is  blamed- National identity card and its 'multiple
> purposes' is peddled as a solution. (Multiple Purpose Argument)
>
> Premise seems to be that aspirations of genuine citizens could be
> ascertained. Card will reduce the burden of carrying many documents. Data
> processing will be streamlined.
>
> In addition to MNIC the GOI is also considering the issuance of a Unified
> National Identity Card or UID and plans are also underway for the creation
> of a DNA database for the country. In both these cases the premise seems to
> be that the -GOOD- of the country could be achieved, as a UID card will
> benefit everybody and a DNA database will help in medical advancement.
>
> Questions-
>
> The above framework exists in mass consciousness. What we need to do now
> is, I believe, ask  questions and seek answers to gain a grip on this
> unfolding story.
>
> I have divided my questions in this regard into two categories, general and
> specific. First let us look at general questions-
>
> 1. If MINC is an identity document then what does the Government of India
> mean by it?
>
> More specifically what it mean to identify a particular person as that
> particular person?
>
> 2. Is the production of a national identity card
> -an-absolute-and-necessary- condition for all of us in India, if so WHY?
> What is the evidence that supports this claim?
>
> 3. Is there NO OTHER way with which the money that the GOI has could be
> distributed more justly?
>
> 4.On the basis of what evidence has the GOI come to this conclusion that
> with MINC or the process of identification of people for granting them MINC
> cards, will correctly identify all Indians as Indians? When all other forms
> of identification have failed in the last one hundred and twenty years.
>
> 5. Is there any precedent wherein the distribution of identity cards have
> benefited all recipients?
>
> 6. Who will be the real beneficiary, will it be the corporates (Companies
> who have invested millions in the production and manufacture of cards and
> who are in the data management game), the GOI who will have access private
> and personal  information of millions of Indians which till now was strictly
> the property of owner or the recipients?
>
> Specific questions with respect to arguments which have come in the public
> domain as listed above.
>
> To begin with, in this post I will put forth just one question per
> corresponding argument mentioned earlier. I will of course present more
> questions in the event this post generates some discussion. I earnestly hope
> it does. :)
>
> 1. Regarding Spatial insulation and social containment argument-
>
> Given that Indian borders are still not insulated especially along Nepal
> and Bangladesh border, how will the issuance of a National identity card
> deter intrusions?
>
> 2. Regarding Separating the Wheat from the Chaff argument-
>
> How will a National Identity Card solve the problem of 'Bad' Mulsims which
> is far more complex and whose roots lie in socio-economic, socio-political,
> religio-theological, ethno-national notions and popular interpretations of
> these notions?
>
> In other words how will a National Identity card prevent a mad enraged
> Muslim oscillating between brink of insanity and completely misguided
> religious fervor to annihilate himself and others in the process?
>
> or from the perspective of the State, how will a National Identity Card
> help the authorities in identifying the existence of such a rogue element
> amongst the One Hundred and Fourteen Million Muslims  who live in India
> alone?
>
> 3.  Just Distribution argument-
>
> What is the evidence that the information or the data so collected will not
> be subjected to various ethno-national pressures?  In other words What is
> the evidence that distribution entailing from such an exercise will be
> corruption free?
>
> or Is there any precedent where the issuance of cards has resulted in just
> distribution?
>
> 4. Modernity Argument, Catching up with the West argument-
>
> Given that there is no precedent of such a technology bearing fruit for all
> in the West, why do we need to copy it in India?
>
> What will we benefit as a Nation from such a massive disbursement of public
> money? What is the opportunity cost? What is the evidence for the cost
> benefit analysis that the GOI seems to have done for the introduction of
> such a card?
>
> 5.  Multipurpose Argument-
>
> Given that when we already have a range of identity cards addressing
> individual purposes, why is the government not interested in making sure
> that the truth claims and validity of earlier forms of identification is
> made more sound?
>
> Is the investment in improving earlier forms of identification more than,
> what many believe to be 27000 crore rupees (The cost of bringing in MNIC for
> a national roll out)? The assertion, that the total cost of National roll
> out for MNIC is  27000 Crore, could be regarded as hear say, it stems from a
> discussion at the Smart Card Exposition held in Pragati Maidan in 2006,
> between S Swarn, the editor of Electronics Today Magazine and a
> representative of NXP of Philips. I was part of audience. I ofcourse do not
> have any evidence to support this claim. Hence we need to ask even more
> fundamental question regarding the cost of the card. I would like to believe
> that the cost of card will be more? That would include cost of building the
> MNIC centers, creating the required architecture to maintain it and putting
> a mechanism in place to run it.
>
> What is the TOTAL COST of introducing and maintaining MNIC? Because we the
> citizens of India have no access to this information?
>
> What are the estimates?
>
> How are those estimates arrived at?
>
> Is the procedure just of arriving those estimates correct?
>
> Warm regards
>
> Taha
>
>
> Dear Taha
> No, I didn't read it anywhere. I was told this anecdote by an ex-IPS officer (obviously name-less) who said this is quite a popular story. In fact illegal movement of cattle for commercial purpose is very common across Indo-Pak border (and could it be done without the help of border forces?). You may see some reports below:
>
> http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/bsf-bdr-discuss-steps-to-tackle-cattle-smuggling-infiltration-lead_10088545.html
>
> http://www.vina.cc/stories/GENERAL/2005/7/india.pak.animaldeal.html
>
> http://in.reuters.com/article/topNews/idINIndia-33111220080418
>
> http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-54238.html
>
> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1232370.cms
>
> Yousuf
>
> From: Taha Mehmood <2tahamehmood at googlemail.com> <2tahamehmood at googlemail.com>
> > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Infiltration through Punjab worries BSF
> > To: ysaeed7 at yahoo.com, "reader-list at sarai.net" <reader-list at sarai.net> <reader-list at sarai.net> <reader-list at sarai.net>
> > Date: Friday, January 2, 2009, 12:02 PM
> >
> Dear Yusuf,
> >
> > Thank you for sharing the anecdote below. For the sake of
> > clarification
> > could I ask you to please cite the source of this anecdote.
> > Was this
> > something that you have heard or read from some where. I
> > apologize for being
> > painful and sounding like an utter idiot but I think it
> > would be nice to
> > have this bit categorized properly.
> >
> > Warm regards
> >
> > Taha
> >
> >
> > On Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 4:21 AM, Yousuf
> > <ysaeed7 at yahoo.com> <ysaeed7 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
>
> > > A BSF jawan who had served both on Indo-Bangladesh as
>
> > well as Indo-Pak
>
> > > border was once asked what difference did he find
>
> > while serving on these 2
>
> > > borders. His reply was: "we earn 300 rupees to
>
> > help cross one animal
>
> > > (goat/cow) from India to Pakistan, and the same 300 to
>
> > cross one human from
>
> > > Bangladesh to India. That's the only
>
> > difference"
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