[Reader-list] News Items posted on the net on Multipurpose National Identity Cards-36

[Taha Mehmood]

http://www.hindu.com/2005/12/21/stories/2005122119321700.htm

The Hindu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 21, 2005 	



Evolve system to disqualify dubious politicians: Kalam

Staff Reporter

"Election officer can glean track records " "The core of empowerment
for prosperity of one billion Indians was connectivity and partnership
between governmental and multiple institutions in the public and
private domains"

NEW DELHI: Expounding his vision of realising knowledge economy
through application of e-governance for empowering the nation,
President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Tuesday said even politicians of
doubtful integrity could be kept away from elections in that set-up.

Speaking at the India Empowered Summit organised here by The Indian
Express along with Tata and NDTV Profit, Mr. Kalam picked up an
election scenario to elucidate the impact of e-governance. When all
the government departments and institutions are inter-connected the
election officer could immediately verify the candidate's authenticity
from the national citizen identity database through multifactor
authentication from a multipurpose citizen identity card, he said.

"His education credentials can come from university records, his track
record of employment from various employers with whom he had worked
and his income and wealth resources from the Income-Tax Department and
other sources.

"The candidate's property record could come from the registration of
land authority across the country.

"His credit history could be collected from various credit
institutions like banks.

His civic consciousness and citizenship behaviour could come from the
police records and his legal track records from the judicial system."

Artificial intelligence

"Artificial intelligence software could analyse his credentials and
give a rating on how successful a politician will he be," said Mr.
Kalam, adding that it was also possible to let people cast their vote
sitting at home.

Referring to the Indian Oil Corporation employee, S. Manjunath, who
was recently killed by the oil mafia in Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Kalam said
it was unfortunate but added that it was time to bring about a change
to prevent such incidents.

"As we are talking about the responsibilities of the Government, it is
also essential that people are equally responsible. The education
system has to create responsible, enlightened and righteous citizens,"
Mr. Kalam added.

Manjunath's parents who participated in the conclave met the President later.

The Summit was a culmination of a series of 160 articles on
"Empowering India" contributed by leaders and experts from the fields
of politics, government, business, sciences, arts and sports, which
were published in The Indian Express.