The Social Revolution in India

No one realized when it entered our nation. No one knew when it started to grip the nook and corner of our country. But now the social revolution is making it's presence felt whetjer we want it it or not. You get laughed at by a cab driver when you tell the your starting salary as an IT engineer. It's not unusual nowadays to find a autovala's son securing admission into an IIT. It's a usual scenario these days to find your maid asking for some money to pay her son's school fee. Recently we witnessed how athletes from lower strata of the society earned laurels for India at Commonwealth games without much of government support. All these incidences point to a quiet social revolution which no one realized when it materialized. The lower strata of the society has been empowered with not just money but with opportunities.

But what actually happened that this empowerment happened?Did it come along the economic reforms? Or did it occur by chance? Or did the lower strata gradually changed their destiny by sheer dint of their hard work? Or was it the lack of respect towards them by the well off that gave a festering wound which kept urging them to fight against their destiny?

When questions come up like a high tide then it becomes imperative to put the things in perspective to ebb them. Every change involves actions. Every action starts with a motive. History speaks volume that actions driven by a dented heart are as powerful as those driven by good faith. So, it all started with some bruised hearts which let their wounds fester.

Every time a have humiliated a have not, every time you abused your driver, every time you scolded your maid - every time you gave them a reason to ensure that their son or daughter will not live such a life. You hurt their dignity.

You gave them a motive to ensure that their child goes to school at every cost. In fact, you did a social service to the nation. They were hungry for dignity respect and a descent living standard. Education, once a the ladder of success for the middle class, was now a tool for them. And they used it well.

And now you find that your clerk's son earns in lakhs as an IT engineer while your son thrifts money on sports cars.

Was it education alone that empowered them? Not exactly. The growing economy of India and the unignorable IT industry in specific created a environment where earning money was no longer a dream but reality if you are ready to study and slog. When it comes to slogging it out, they are the best. That's precisely what worked for them. They were ready to go to any extent to get dignity and earn money.

There were many other reasons that worked in favour of this empowerment like a competitive market,an educated middle class which believes that merit is above is class, an electronic media which glamorized social service, display of values and support for education.

But it all started with their desire to climb the ladder. It's good for the country that such a change is happening now. But then the attitude of most of the lower strata people is yet to change. Education in India has never been able to change the attitude of the people. It will take time. But then it's also upto the well off to take the new empowered "no-longer low class" with open arms. If we get united and share ideas and views openly, nothing can stop India from achieving the status of a super power.

What is our new Adhar.....

From the maker of an I.T. colossus comes a revolution spanning the millions but identifying each and every Indian thereby refuting the adage, “What’s in the name?” for a new dimension of identity will be added to the way we perceive and the way we think. Aadhar, the ambitious project of our government will form the adhar or foundation of our new outlook.

"The role that the Authority envisions is to issue a unique identification number (UID) that can be verified and authenticated in an online, cost-effective manner, and that is robust enough to eliminate duplicate and fake identities."

Quite simple in operation but gets complex due to size and scale- about 1.2 billion people and 3000 km. The modus operandi comprises exhaustive data (like basic info and demographic data) gathering about an individual into a biometrically indexed database with the help of public schemes like NRGEA and organisations like LIC.

Aadhar will touch every sphere of our life. Be it education, be it telecom or be it any sphere where data is important and future counts on it.

A lot of administrative issues in education may be resolved. Every student will be registered in the database from the day he enters school. Tracking exact statistics like school dropouts will become efficient as well as accurate. Moreover, it will help in granting as well as repaying of education loans. It will be easier for banks to establish student identity and consequently grant loans earlier. Easier it will be track repayments which as of now stands to a whooping Rs 32,000 crore due to outstanding education loans.

Telecommunication seem likely to be affected the most. Verifying subscription will become efficient and devoid of hassles. As of now subscription verification rate is abysmally low in some stated like Jammu and Kashmir with just 35% verification. Moreover, combining UID with mobile phone may unleash a gamut of special services like financial services and mobile governance.

UID has also started creating ripples in the direction of identity of inanimate objects. An e-toll plan has been already proposed with RFID tags for vehicles to serve as UID; herein the vehicle on passing under the RFID scanner will get a deduction from its prepaid account that will be specifically made for this purpose.

Areas like Railways are also likely to stitch the UID in their fabric.

However, such a multi-dimensionary phenomenon can't be bereft of inherent risks. The concept of unique identification itself is under criticism in not just India but in other places as well. Recently, Mr. David Cameron, U.K.' PM, scrapped the national ID card scheme on the grounds that it can compromise individual privacy. A lot of hue and cry is being raised in the international milieu over the risks it poses towards individual privacy.

This not the only bothering. The universality of the card marginalizes the ones without it. Snooping and identity theft are the other possible misuses.

To ensure that the Aadhar doesn't lose its vey aadhar, the government has appointed a panel to frame a new law recognizing right to privacy as a fundamental right with ground rules for its protection and criminal liability against the offeders.

The ambitious project is about getting Information Technology in day to day affairs for accurate data and efficient work by providing a single identity for an individual. It is not a revolution in itself but a spark which will fire innovation and efficiency in multiple directions creating a revolution in the long run. However, the inherent data privacy concern can't be overlooked in the light of these benefits. Law might be enforced, but its successful implementation will depend on how seriously the issue is considered by the authorities.