The Government's ambitious unique identification project, Aadhaar, has drawn flak from several sections of society.
In a panel discussion held here recently, activists, experts and lawyers debated on the pros and cons of the project.
The panel discussion was organised by non-governmental organisations Aneka and Karnataka Sexual Minorities Forum.
While members of the transgender community spoke on larger issues faced by the community, Shubham Mishra from Orissa said the provision in the UID to identify themselves as ‘transgender' gave them hope that the Government would recognise their identity. However, she said she did not approve of the project or the process.
A variety of opinions and perspectives surfaced during the debate.
For instance, even as experts discussed the pros and cons of the project, a member of the transgender community, who works as a sex worker, expressed her support for the project. She asked: “I do not have access to ration cards or most other welfare schemes because these do not recognise my identity. If the Aadhaar number can serve as my identity, then will it not help me?”
Experts on the panel, however, pointed out that the Aadhaar number could also be used for profiling and targeting individuals.
The huge costs involved, the lack of an existing legislation around which the Aadhaar project is framed, and the absence of a cost-benefit analysis were other issues raised.