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If this was proposed for a 'developed' country, there would rightly be uproar from civil liberties groups, citizens etc. But because it's happening in an 'under

If this was proposed for a 'developed' country, there would rightly be uproar from civil liberties groups, citizens etc. But because it's happening in an 'underdeveloped' country, it's somehow acceptable. I understand the challenges faced by the Indian government in providing services to a such a huge population but this approach is open to rampant abuse by the 'middlemen' and by elements in the government itself. Any self-respecting 'security' agency would get their tentacles into something like this asap. Doubtless, they're already involved in the implementation on the quiet. [edit: corrected typo]

jk 15y ago
Is social security number in US being misused? Developed countries would already have a unique ID in place. Also, middlemen will not be able to take advantage of this. They will be cut out completely when the person has to avail the benefits after identifying himself/herself.
- monsterix 15y ago
  SSN took at least 150 years to implement and there is substantial difference between the American and Indian situation. Middlemen are already there isn't it? - Technical services companies like TCS, Infosys etc. who are getting paid in billions for something that Facebook/mobile type of platform could also implement at a much lower cost. I really don't really see your argument. Can you explain a little more?
pavel_lishin 15y ago
I can hear the uproar now: "It's these poor people's RIGHT to starve because they cannot prove who they are, and because middle-men are stealing their grain!" You're applying a first-world dilemma to a second-world nation a large percentage of whose citizens live in third-world poverty. Let's pull them up onto the level at which they can begin to worry about that, instead of trying to prematurely optimize.
nmridul 15y ago
When you have no food to eat, and you see that your food is taken by middle men, then the issues of privacy, freedom of speech etc becomes irrelevant. But once your stomach is full and you don't have to work 18 hours a day x 7 days a week to feed your family (not talking about startup founders, but those other who will remain hungry even if they miss half a day of work day of work) then you start noticing your privacy and your freedom.

jk 15y ago

Is social security number in US being misused? Developed countries would already have a unique ID in place. Also, middlemen will not be able to take advantage of this. They will be cut out completely when the person has to avail the benefits after identifying himself/herself.

monsterix 15y ago
SSN took at least 150 years to implement and there is substantial difference between the American and Indian situation. Middlemen are already there isn't it? - Technical services companies like TCS, Infosys etc. who are getting paid in billions for something that Facebook/mobile type of platform could also implement at a much lower cost. I really don't really see your argument. Can you explain a little more?

pavel_lishin 15y ago

I can hear the uproar now: "It's these poor people's RIGHT to starve because they cannot prove who they are, and because middle-men are stealing their grain!" You're applying a first-world dilemma to a second-world nation a large percentage of whose citizens live in third-world poverty. Let's pull them up onto the level at which they can begin to worry about that, instead of trying to prematurely optimize.

nmridul 15y ago

When you have no food to eat, and you see that your food is taken by middle men, then the issues of privacy, freedom of speech etc becomes irrelevant. But once your stomach is full and you don't have to work 18 hours a day x 7 days a week to feed your family (not talking about startup founders, but those other who will remain hungry even if they miss half a day of work day of work) then you start noticing your privacy and your freedom.