According to experts, Unique Identification Project of India and Unique Identification Authority of India (UIAI) cannot be legitimate till there is a “legislative framework” duly supporting it. The same is presently missing in India. Similarly, concerns regarding data protection, privacy issues, cyber security, etc are also there to be addressed. The Parliament has to enact a Techno-Legal Statute in this regard to confer legitimacy to this much needed initiative.
Unique Identification Project (UIP) of India is gaining importance in India. It is also the need of the hour. The only requirement remains is that it must be implemented and enforced properly.
UIP not only requires a good legal support but properly trained manpower as well. The first step would be to formulate suitable policies and laws in this regard. Then we have to train sufficient number of people to manage this ambitious project.
According to Praveen Dalal, the leading Techno-Legal Expert of India and Managing Partner of Perry4Law Unique Identification Project of India is a much needed initiative and its importance cannot be undermined. However, no matter howsoever important a project may be, it must be done both legally and reasonably. If a project is not supported by a good and reasonable law, its importance is overshadowed by its fallacies and possible abuses, says Dalal.
Some issues those have to be resolved before implementing the UIP pertains to data protection, privacy protection, security of the information gathered, data management, etc. Similarly, contractual issues, information sharing and distribution, etc would also arise, opined Dalal.
The challenges before the Unique Identification Authority of India are numerous and manifold. It has already started gathering public opinions and inputs in this regard. Similarly, various stakeholders have also been consulted in this regard. This is the correct approach as a broader public acceptance can be obtained in this manner, says Dalal.
There are no hints of any legislation making pertaining to UIP and UIAI in the current winter session of the Parliament. Perhaps the government of India needs more time before making an important law in this much needed direction.