[Reader-list] UID CARD BENEFIT

[Bipin Trivedi]

Dear Taha,

Thanks for your mail and glad to know that you welcome technology updated
society. If we think for pros and cons in deep before adopting some
innovative ideas and think for prolong in the matter for negative aspects
then we cannot discover new things. Renowned scientists would have thought
about the negative effect of their inventions then no new invention would
have been possible. When we are in need of job and at last we get some job
may be not of our stature and knowledge and we think about its negativity
then we have to remain jobless. To do something is always better than
nothing.

Can I ask one question, what's your identity? You are human being and
citizen of India that's your identity. Can you deny it? When you go to
another country, you have to keep your identity in the form of passport with
so many details in it that you are citizen of India. So, relating to world,
you have to keep your Indian citizen identity. Same thing, in this new
high-tech technology age, when population is growing rapidly and our own
security are under threat then you have to keep some identity for safety
measures.

For example, election photo card issued to almost 85/90% of voter
successfully which is necessary for fair election purpose. Do you deny this
identity also? When large database are created no doubt error will be there,
since data entry will be made by human only. But, if you count that
percentage is very low comparatively and can be corrected easily when
noticed. For few errors one cannot stop something innovative things which
will be very beneficial in the future.

You are talking about twelve counts, but nowadays new census going on where
you have to give details of much more then even twelve counts so nothing
wrong about it. Someone feel that what about our privacy, but do you think
that in this technological age, can you keep intact your privacy? No not at
all. If someone wants to know about yourself can fetch the details by any
means with the help of technology.

Cards like driving license, passport has to be up-dated over period of time.
We have to renew both this in regular interval as specified and same can be
applicable for UID also. When UID card is prepared for first time, there
will be date of birth mentioned with input date and formula can be put up so
whenever it will be swiped will display your current age only whenever
required. Technology can do anything so nothing to worry about it.

Thanks
Bipin



-----Original Message-----
From: Taha Mehmood [mailto:2tahamehmood at googlemail.com] 
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 5:35 PM
To: Bipin Trivedi
Cc: Sarai Reader-list
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Price of documenting Individual identity in
India-100 rupees

Dear Bipin,

Thank you for your mail. I totally agree with your view that there
many advantages of technology. I certainly believe that technology
must be exploited the most to help the underprivileged people of our
country. In this regard the use of UID as a technology must be given
due consideration.

Central to the imagination of UID is the notion of -identity-. I find
this notion fuzzy. It is fuzzy because it is not clear. It is not
clear because till now although a lot of people have tried to define
identity, unfortunately no one has been able to come to a clear
conclusion. A conclusion which would withstand any test of proof. A
conclusion which could be applied universally.

Can you please define what in your learned view an -identity- means?
Or for that matter why do you think that the manner in which UIDAI is
defining identity is foolproof? By asking people to give information
on twelve counts is the UID not creating an imperfect archive of
impressions? How can a resultant memory which is formed of an
imperfect archive of impressions be correct? Would not lead the State	
to display signs of forgetfulness?

Then what about the view of many other people who view that identity
of an individual accounts for much more and then there are many people
still more who view that identity of a human being is always in a
state of flux.

If by propagating this whole UID exercise the functionaries Government
of India wants us to believe that after the allotment of a number X,
A-for all times to come would be-A, then please tell me whether such a
logic is correct? Do people not change over time? If they do then how
come they can be represented by the same number? Were you the same
Bipin who was just a day old, to a young boy who was six years old to
an adult? Did you not go through a change in your self identity? Do
you think a number is correct signification of who you are?

Warm regards

Taha