Existing identity databases are fraught with problems: Survey

The Economic Survey today said existing identity databases are fraught with problems of fraud, duplicate and ghost beneficiaries.

Mentioning the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the survey said the authority in order to prevent seeping of duplicate names into the UIDAI database plans to enroll residents with proper verification of their demographic and biometric information.

"This will ensure that the data collected is clean from the start of the programme," it said.

The Survey said UIDAI will ensure that 'know your resident' standards don't become a barrier for enrolling the poor and will devise suitable procedures to ensure their inclusion without compromising on integrity of the data.

The Survey said UID number will only provide identity and not citizenship and that it will have a pro-poor approach as it will help bring in large number of the poor and underprivileged into the UID system.

It said the enrolment in UID will not be mandated but would be demand-driven and that it will issue a number and not a card.

"The adoption of UIDs is expected to gain momentum with time, as the UID number establishes itself as the most accepted identity proof in the country," the Survey said.