In a letter first published on Scroll, Six retired IAS officers have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing concern at what they call the Aadhaar ID system’s “encroachment” upon people’s lives.
We are concerned that the Unique Identification Aadhaar system has, step by little step, encroached upon, and disrupted the lives of many, and denied their entitlements to many more, particularly amongst the poor.
The letter also raises concerns about information leaks from the UIDAI database, instances of fraud, and even criminal complaints about fake Aadhaar cards being used.
Media reports and field surveys have poured in from across the country regarding leakages, malpractices and fraud; biometric mismatch, and the rejection of genuine cases. The UIDAI has registered criminal cases for preparing fake Aadhaar cards, for hacking databases, and so on. Assertions made by high public authorities have been contested for not being backed by verifiable data.
The letter goes on to question the government’s lack of transparency with regard to Aadhaar information.
This is because the UIDAI, which is the sole repository of all information on Aadhaar, has resolved not to disclose any data; it has even refused information under the RTI, on grounds of national security.
The letter, signed by a former chairman of the Delhi Finance Commission (MK Bezboruah), a former chief secretary (Surjit Kishore Das), 2 former additional chief secretaries of the Gujarat government (CK Koshy & VV Rama Subba Rao), the former secretary to the Government of India’s IT Department, and a former director-general of the ministry of rural development, asks for an immediate rectification of the Aadhaar system if any administrative oversights are identified.
The Quint
