Sunday 22 April 2012

India's Biometric Database


Nandan Nilekani, an entrepreneur, better known for his pivotal role in an Indian  start-up company called Infosys,took the initiative to invest his years of experience to give every Indian citizen a Unique Identity Number (UID) to with the help of biometric technology  which would  help them to access better public services.

After the Right to Information Act, this project was to put India on  the international map in terms of good governance. Indians who are looking forward to an inclusive growth in the country cannot deny that there will be hurdles while implementing new schemes. This scheme is now going through its bleak phase with the accusations of maintaining privacy and reliability.

If we want to see a change which can impact us in every way, the key is to remain patient. This scheme was initiated with an intention to simplify the system; we have to stop behaving like our media who fail to realise their responsibility and it's has been ages since they published a positive story. Independent but effective regulatory systems with a well- informed (rather than a mis-informed) media is the need of the hour. Every Indian must not only see the difference but believe that we can remove the existing defects out of the system. 

Many would argue that we have remained patient for years and the only task the government  has fulfilled is to  disappoint us. We should be aware that the system is the integration of our culture,languages,past history,poverty in toto. Our population growth and growing illiteracy rate  are the biggest barriers in making this system slog at a low growth rate. 


 I think the only way we can solve the problem is to create a system on merits. Whether a doctor or a politician, anyone who invests lakhs of money to get a degree or win an election, it's a no-brainer.We are in need of carefully planned regulations which would impose tougher sanctions on people violating the law.

Our politicians create ruckus in parliament with a sole intention of adjourning the house. I wish they could learn from their own  knowledgeable counterparts who believe in maintaining the decorum of the House. 


Very much like the Unique Identity Scheme on the economic front, our political front is also suffering with unnecessary hurdles. Visionaries in reality like Shashi Tharoor have borne the brunt of the critics, who would go to any extent  to dig up (or concoct, whichever is easier) and blow out of proportion issues, which are non- existent or don't hold any merit. 


What India needs right now is not change but the more vital ingredient the 'Acceptance' of change. This can only happen with a  good number of visionaries who have the freedom to derail from the usual rut.


Purav Mehta


@Bazinga999 on Twitter


The writer is a student in Sydney, Australia who loves to read, has an opinion on current affairs and is extremely passionate about sports.






1 comment: