Who are you?
SECURITY
Post 2015, you could just flip your ?MNIC and answer... "here!"
By Syed Nazakat
The Mumbai attacks have redefined 'security' in India. Pradeep Gosh knows it better. As a manager of Hotel Prakash in Paharganj, Delhi, he has to make sure-as per strict governmental directives-that Mr X is, indeed, Mr X before he checks in. But it's so hard to make out if a voter's ID or a PAN card is real or fake that he has to 'study' every customer. "People carry an avalanche of identity cards. Yet it is tough to establish a person's identity," said Pradeep.
The solution to Pradeep's problem, and to others', lies some 35km away, in a dusty village in northwest Delhi called Pooth Khurd. Here, the government has introduced Multipurpose National Identity Card (MNIC). The card has an embedded microchip containing personal details of the cardholder, like date and place of birth, photograph, signature and a unique 16-digit National Identification Number. MNIC could be used at banks, railway stations, airports and hospitals, besides as a proof of marital status and citizenship.
"The pilot project has been a success. We are now working to see how we can implement it across the nation," said S.K. Chakraborty, deputy registrar general. "It will not only enhance the security cover of the country but also facilitate national level e-governance programme. It will also relieve people of the hassle of carrying numerous cards." Introduced by the BJP-led NDA government in 2002, the project, under the registrar general of India, is expected to issue a standard ID card post 2015. The election commission, which initially opposed the project, saying voter IDs were "good enough", now vouches for MNIC. "I think it will help us overcome problems related to finalisation of electoral rolls," said chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami.
No wonder then that the people of Pooth Khurd cannot stop talking about their 'big' acquisition. "I still remember how the whole village turned up when the card was introduced in 2007. The registrar general of India himself came and gave us the cards," said Rajveer Singh, flaunting his. Every member above 18 in Singh's family has got the card. "This card has given us a unique identity," he said. The pilot project was completed early 2008, with the issue of 12 lakh cards in select areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Assam, Puducherry and Delhi, spending over Rs 45 crore.
"Unlike other cards, MNIC will provide a credible and unique individual identification system," said Onkar Kedia, home ministry spokesperson. But it would be an administrative challenge to centralise different card-issuing authorities. "Right now, our aim is to create a database. Once we are done with that, we will see how to integrate card-issuing authorities," he said.
MNIC would also check Bangla-deshi infiltration if the cards are issued to Indian citizens along the border districts. But there is still a long way to go before everyone gets the card; according to the registrar general's office, not until 2015. "We are planning to prepare the national population register with the 2011 census. And it is only after the census we will get a database to work on," said a home ministry official who did not want to be identified. The Supreme Court has asked the Central government to expedite the process in the northeastern states following the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai.
The finance ministry, meanwhile, is exploring the possibilities of a biometric PAN card, which will detect physical identities of a cardholder. Currently, there are approximately 13 lakh duplicate PAN cards, which were issued in the 1990s, when there was no centralised system to cross-check a person's identity. "The biometric PAN card, which will bear the mapping of a specific part of the human body, like fingerprints, the iris or retina, will help the department avoid duplication," said Shishir Jha, spokesperson for the Central Board of Direct Taxes.
But how to establish a person's identity, particularly when only 500 million out of 670 million voters in the country have voter IDs? There are many who don't have any proof of their being. "If people don't bother to get a valid identity proof document, it is their fault. Ignorance is not bliss," said Ranjan Bhagat, Delhi Police spokesperson. "You may be stopped by the police at any time and asked to prove who you are. You need to carry, and produce on demand, an authenticated identification card," said Bhagat.
Following the Mumbai attacks, the police have instructed house owners in the capital to verify the antecedents of tenants before entering into a deal. Hotels have grown cautious-one needs to provide an authentic identity proof before check-in. Airlines often verify passengers before issuing boarding passes. In certain localities in Delhi, one needs to show a photo ID to a security guard even to enter a building.
Cyber cafe owners enter the name, address and telephone number of every client in a register. Still, establishing a person's identity remains a problem. "It is not easy to verify the identities of our many customers," said Manjeet Singh, a cyber cafe owner in Lajpat Nagar, south Delhi. "I don't even know whether they are writing their correct names in the ledger," he said. Even the clients are unhappy. Said Jyoti Verma, a 12th class student: "I feel irritated that every time I come here I have to write down my address and cell number. It could be misused. This is an invasion of privacy."
Not far from the internet cafe, Ritesh Sharma, a property dealer, is sitting idle at his office. Following the Mumbai attacks, many house owners refuse to rent out their apartments to those without authentic identification proof or a guarantor. "This not only is frustrating for those who need a place but also affects our business," said Sharma.
On the other hand, telecom operators say that they issue SIM cards only on submission of required documents. "A person needs to give personal details, a recent photograph and proof of residence to get a SIM card," said Ashok Kumar, an Airtel distributor in Jangpura, south Delhi. "The new SIM card is activated only after making a phone call to the customer's residence." Earlier, he said, he used to accept any document as proof of identity. "But now I accept only a passport, voter ID card or a driving licence," said Kumar. But even these checks are not foolproof. Last year, BSNL and Airtel blocked about 10,000 pre-paid SIM cards which militants in Kashmir acquired under fake identities.
When the nation is facing new security challenges, more and more people will be asked to prove their identity for the sake of national security. The common man might find himself at the receiving end of the security system, but as Pradeep Gosh said, owing to the situation today, nobody could be presumed innocent. "Sometimes I don't like to question my guests. It is not the polite thing to do," said Pradeep. "But I don't want to take any chances."
What is MNIC?
Multipurpose National Identity Card (MNIC) is an initiative of the Union government to create a national ID for every Indian citizen with the objective of increasing national security, managing citizen identity and facilitating e-governance. MNIC is a smart card with a 16KB memory. The project was initiated by the NDA government in 2002, and is currently in pilot mode in 12 states.
An avalanche of ID cards
India is one of the countries where instead of one national ID card, people use different documents to prove their identity
Passport: Six million passports issued in 2008
Voter ID card: Over 500 million Indians ?have voter identity cards
Driving licence: In Delhi alone, approxi-mately 5 lakh licences are issued every year
Ration card: 10.28 crore ration cards have been issued to Below Poverty Line families
PAN card: Around 5 lakh applications are received every month
Post 2015, you could just flip your ?MNIC and answer... "here!"
By Syed Nazakat
The Mumbai attacks have redefined 'security' in India. Pradeep Gosh knows it better. As a manager of Hotel Prakash in Paharganj, Delhi, he has to make sure-as per strict governmental directives-that Mr X is, indeed, Mr X before he checks in. But it's so hard to make out if a voter's ID or a PAN card is real or fake that he has to 'study' every customer. "People carry an avalanche of identity cards. Yet it is tough to establish a person's identity," said Pradeep.
The solution to Pradeep's problem, and to others', lies some 35km away, in a dusty village in northwest Delhi called Pooth Khurd. Here, the government has introduced Multipurpose National Identity Card (MNIC). The card has an embedded microchip containing personal details of the cardholder, like date and place of birth, photograph, signature and a unique 16-digit National Identification Number. MNIC could be used at banks, railway stations, airports and hospitals, besides as a proof of marital status and citizenship.
"The pilot project has been a success. We are now working to see how we can implement it across the nation," said S.K. Chakraborty, deputy registrar general. "It will not only enhance the security cover of the country but also facilitate national level e-governance programme. It will also relieve people of the hassle of carrying numerous cards." Introduced by the BJP-led NDA government in 2002, the project, under the registrar general of India, is expected to issue a standard ID card post 2015. The election commission, which initially opposed the project, saying voter IDs were "good enough", now vouches for MNIC. "I think it will help us overcome problems related to finalisation of electoral rolls," said chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami.
No wonder then that the people of Pooth Khurd cannot stop talking about their 'big' acquisition. "I still remember how the whole village turned up when the card was introduced in 2007. The registrar general of India himself came and gave us the cards," said Rajveer Singh, flaunting his. Every member above 18 in Singh's family has got the card. "This card has given us a unique identity," he said. The pilot project was completed early 2008, with the issue of 12 lakh cards in select areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Assam, Puducherry and Delhi, spending over Rs 45 crore.
"Unlike other cards, MNIC will provide a credible and unique individual identification system," said Onkar Kedia, home ministry spokesperson. But it would be an administrative challenge to centralise different card-issuing authorities. "Right now, our aim is to create a database. Once we are done with that, we will see how to integrate card-issuing authorities," he said.
MNIC would also check Bangla-deshi infiltration if the cards are issued to Indian citizens along the border districts. But there is still a long way to go before everyone gets the card; according to the registrar general's office, not until 2015. "We are planning to prepare the national population register with the 2011 census. And it is only after the census we will get a database to work on," said a home ministry official who did not want to be identified. The Supreme Court has asked the Central government to expedite the process in the northeastern states following the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai.
The finance ministry, meanwhile, is exploring the possibilities of a biometric PAN card, which will detect physical identities of a cardholder. Currently, there are approximately 13 lakh duplicate PAN cards, which were issued in the 1990s, when there was no centralised system to cross-check a person's identity. "The biometric PAN card, which will bear the mapping of a specific part of the human body, like fingerprints, the iris or retina, will help the department avoid duplication," said Shishir Jha, spokesperson for the Central Board of Direct Taxes.
But how to establish a person's identity, particularly when only 500 million out of 670 million voters in the country have voter IDs? There are many who don't have any proof of their being. "If people don't bother to get a valid identity proof document, it is their fault. Ignorance is not bliss," said Ranjan Bhagat, Delhi Police spokesperson. "You may be stopped by the police at any time and asked to prove who you are. You need to carry, and produce on demand, an authenticated identification card," said Bhagat.
Following the Mumbai attacks, the police have instructed house owners in the capital to verify the antecedents of tenants before entering into a deal. Hotels have grown cautious-one needs to provide an authentic identity proof before check-in. Airlines often verify passengers before issuing boarding passes. In certain localities in Delhi, one needs to show a photo ID to a security guard even to enter a building.
Cyber cafe owners enter the name, address and telephone number of every client in a register. Still, establishing a person's identity remains a problem. "It is not easy to verify the identities of our many customers," said Manjeet Singh, a cyber cafe owner in Lajpat Nagar, south Delhi. "I don't even know whether they are writing their correct names in the ledger," he said. Even the clients are unhappy. Said Jyoti Verma, a 12th class student: "I feel irritated that every time I come here I have to write down my address and cell number. It could be misused. This is an invasion of privacy."
Not far from the internet cafe, Ritesh Sharma, a property dealer, is sitting idle at his office. Following the Mumbai attacks, many house owners refuse to rent out their apartments to those without authentic identification proof or a guarantor. "This not only is frustrating for those who need a place but also affects our business," said Sharma.
On the other hand, telecom operators say that they issue SIM cards only on submission of required documents. "A person needs to give personal details, a recent photograph and proof of residence to get a SIM card," said Ashok Kumar, an Airtel distributor in Jangpura, south Delhi. "The new SIM card is activated only after making a phone call to the customer's residence." Earlier, he said, he used to accept any document as proof of identity. "But now I accept only a passport, voter ID card or a driving licence," said Kumar. But even these checks are not foolproof. Last year, BSNL and Airtel blocked about 10,000 pre-paid SIM cards which militants in Kashmir acquired under fake identities.
When the nation is facing new security challenges, more and more people will be asked to prove their identity for the sake of national security. The common man might find himself at the receiving end of the security system, but as Pradeep Gosh said, owing to the situation today, nobody could be presumed innocent. "Sometimes I don't like to question my guests. It is not the polite thing to do," said Pradeep. "But I don't want to take any chances."
What is MNIC?
Multipurpose National Identity Card (MNIC) is an initiative of the Union government to create a national ID for every Indian citizen with the objective of increasing national security, managing citizen identity and facilitating e-governance. MNIC is a smart card with a 16KB memory. The project was initiated by the NDA government in 2002, and is currently in pilot mode in 12 states.
An avalanche of ID cards
India is one of the countries where instead of one national ID card, people use different documents to prove their identity
Passport: Six million passports issued in 2008
Voter ID card: Over 500 million Indians ?have voter identity cards
Driving licence: In Delhi alone, approxi-mately 5 lakh licences are issued every year
Ration card: 10.28 crore ration cards have been issued to Below Poverty Line families
PAN card: Around 5 lakh applications are received every month
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