JORHAT, Sept 21: The Deputy Commissioner of Udalguri, SS Meenakshi Sundaram, has proposed an information technology based solution to the issue of influx of illegal migrants into the region. This, he says, is a viable alternative to erecting a fence along the Indo-Bangla or various Acts which have loopholes.
“Information technology offers a simple, easy to maintain, realistic, cost effective, transparent, apolitical, non-partisan solution of high fidelity which can be effectively deployed and the basic ingredients of the solution are already available or under implementation and are soon to be completed in Asom”, Sundaram said.
Explaining the method, Sundaram said that the State had initiated installation of an Optic Fibre Cable Network as part of National e-governance plan, called Assam State Wide Area Network (ASWAN), which would form the skeletal and circulatory architecture linking the whole State upto the Revenue Circle and Development Block levels. The present technology option would build on this upcoming ASWAN architecture and mobile phone tower network.
In his report, Sundaram lays down the basic guidelines on how this method could be operated: The Information Technology based options are– establish State wide Optic Fibre Network – which is already on through ASWAN, issue plastic photo identity card – hereafter called as Resident Identity Card (RIC) with the digital image of the person printed on it. The RIC is to comprise a plastic photo identity card called Resident Identity Card (RIC), that is rugged, easy to maintain and all weather usable, to have a digital image of the person printed on it, to contain the basic information of the person, namely, name, father’s name and mother’s name, address, place of birth, blood group (if available), serial no. and name in the Legislative Assembly Constituency as listed in the electoral rolls, birth marks/identification marks, contact number, etc., of the person, to contain a Bar Code with randomly generated 20 digit alpha numeric number on it, both of which would be unique to each person i.e., to each identity card and hence to be centrally generated on submission of completed data. This data base will have adequate security and back ups maintained centrally. Software to be of open architecture suited for both future scaling up and/or vertical and/or horizontal integrations later, for example capable of future link up to a facial recognition software enabled application. Three finger fingerprinting technology, i.e., index, middle and thumb-based application. The above two technology platforms are simple and cost effective and are suggested to ensure eradication of duplication or possession of multiplicity of cards by the same person in different locations with different identities. RIC to contain a rider/disclaimer at the bottom of the card, which should read as– “Mere possession of this Card does not entail the possessor to any benefits that may accrue through law as a matter of right, particularly citizenship rights, unless proven to be a citizen by established process of law”. “This card is to carried on the body of the person and any absence will be adequately justifiable”. There has to be State database centre at Guwahati – with suitable information back up systems. The system is tamper proof. This can be proved by the fact that a fraud or forged RIC on being read by the on-line bar code reader would not match with the database, nor would the forged alpha numeric code. Further, protection is provided by three finger print technology both of which can help in accessing the database. The salient features of RIC are– RIC would be issued to all residents of Asom, i.e., persons of all ages. All residents above the age of ten years are to be covered. The minimum age for the card is a matter of policy decision. Issue of RIC not to be treated as a proof of citizenship, which shall follow the law and established norms. RIC would be issued to all persons resident of an area at the time of enumeration. (A period of 6 months to 2 years may be fixed with a cut off date for enumeration). RIC to follow an inclusive approach during the period of enumeration and issue. RIC to have an operational window of a maximum of two years after which the process of issue of RIC would be tough and based upon detailed verification and proof of citizenship. The information on shift in settlement of the individual to be captured in the database. RIC to be issued on the basis of the following steps– enumeration of residents based upon inclusive criteria of including maximum people. Enumeration to comprise two phases– door to door collection of information and photographing of residents. Digitalization of data to be done immediately thereafter and the same publicized both in print as well as in network. Rectification of data based upon correction and final publication. The preliminary data to be available on-line which would be ‘read only’ type. The database to be accessible through: Bar Code Reader, entry of the randomly generated Alpha Numeric Code and/or Biometrics reader, etc. only as a ‘read only’ version. Once updated, the data to be frozen. The master control of data, that is, ability to edit data is to be carefully restricted and administrator key to be controlled with multiple checks and any modification thereof to be publicized.
In a detailed report, Sundaram suggests that the RIC should be administered by a statutory agency with autonomous functions and there should be training programmes for training enumerators, data operators, Circle Officers, BDOs and Officers-in-charge of police stations. “The outcome of the RIC project once implemented would be a virtual fence around Asom, as any new immigrant entering Asom would be without the ID and hence easily identified. Presently, there is no mechanism to stop any influx or to ascertain influx or to conclusively identify immigrants. Hence, there is no fence around Asom”, Sundaram said. RIC would not by itself throw the immigrant out of Asom but help in the speedy prosecution, and apprehension, wherever in Asom. RIC Project would help to ensure that no person who had lost or damaged his or her RIC would be unjustly targeted as a new immigrant, since the data can be retrieved through name and father’s/mother’s name and through facial recognition and finger printing technology platforms whichever is used. A duplicate RIC would immediately be issued to the concerned. Any person moving to a new area in Asom from earlier location in Asom can easily get it updated. Further, to ensure that misuse is not made of this procedure, the time line and movement path would be captured in the database. To ensure transparency, the basic data would be easily accessible on-line. Due to the Bar Code and 20 bit Alpha Numeric Codes and the On-line Bar Code Reader linked with Central Database which is tamper proof, the system cannot be breached or defrauded. Thus, immigrants would be identified.
The RIC has real time verification relevance. It requires a reader device comprising Bar Code Reader, digital camera, three finger print reader and typed data input device merged in one an accessible through net work. Being a hand held portable device, it would be user friendly. A team of officers can visit any locality and verify the identity of entire population. For mobile shadow areas, the data can be recorded on the spot and later verified by connecting to database. Hence it would act as virtual fence around Asom. THE SENTINEL
“Information technology offers a simple, easy to maintain, realistic, cost effective, transparent, apolitical, non-partisan solution of high fidelity which can be effectively deployed and the basic ingredients of the solution are already available or under implementation and are soon to be completed in Asom”, Sundaram said.
Explaining the method, Sundaram said that the State had initiated installation of an Optic Fibre Cable Network as part of National e-governance plan, called Assam State Wide Area Network (ASWAN), which would form the skeletal and circulatory architecture linking the whole State upto the Revenue Circle and Development Block levels. The present technology option would build on this upcoming ASWAN architecture and mobile phone tower network.
In his report, Sundaram lays down the basic guidelines on how this method could be operated: The Information Technology based options are– establish State wide Optic Fibre Network – which is already on through ASWAN, issue plastic photo identity card – hereafter called as Resident Identity Card (RIC) with the digital image of the person printed on it. The RIC is to comprise a plastic photo identity card called Resident Identity Card (RIC), that is rugged, easy to maintain and all weather usable, to have a digital image of the person printed on it, to contain the basic information of the person, namely, name, father’s name and mother’s name, address, place of birth, blood group (if available), serial no. and name in the Legislative Assembly Constituency as listed in the electoral rolls, birth marks/identification marks, contact number, etc., of the person, to contain a Bar Code with randomly generated 20 digit alpha numeric number on it, both of which would be unique to each person i.e., to each identity card and hence to be centrally generated on submission of completed data. This data base will have adequate security and back ups maintained centrally. Software to be of open architecture suited for both future scaling up and/or vertical and/or horizontal integrations later, for example capable of future link up to a facial recognition software enabled application. Three finger fingerprinting technology, i.e., index, middle and thumb-based application. The above two technology platforms are simple and cost effective and are suggested to ensure eradication of duplication or possession of multiplicity of cards by the same person in different locations with different identities. RIC to contain a rider/disclaimer at the bottom of the card, which should read as– “Mere possession of this Card does not entail the possessor to any benefits that may accrue through law as a matter of right, particularly citizenship rights, unless proven to be a citizen by established process of law”. “This card is to carried on the body of the person and any absence will be adequately justifiable”. There has to be State database centre at Guwahati – with suitable information back up systems. The system is tamper proof. This can be proved by the fact that a fraud or forged RIC on being read by the on-line bar code reader would not match with the database, nor would the forged alpha numeric code. Further, protection is provided by three finger print technology both of which can help in accessing the database. The salient features of RIC are– RIC would be issued to all residents of Asom, i.e., persons of all ages. All residents above the age of ten years are to be covered. The minimum age for the card is a matter of policy decision. Issue of RIC not to be treated as a proof of citizenship, which shall follow the law and established norms. RIC would be issued to all persons resident of an area at the time of enumeration. (A period of 6 months to 2 years may be fixed with a cut off date for enumeration). RIC to follow an inclusive approach during the period of enumeration and issue. RIC to have an operational window of a maximum of two years after which the process of issue of RIC would be tough and based upon detailed verification and proof of citizenship. The information on shift in settlement of the individual to be captured in the database. RIC to be issued on the basis of the following steps– enumeration of residents based upon inclusive criteria of including maximum people. Enumeration to comprise two phases– door to door collection of information and photographing of residents. Digitalization of data to be done immediately thereafter and the same publicized both in print as well as in network. Rectification of data based upon correction and final publication. The preliminary data to be available on-line which would be ‘read only’ type. The database to be accessible through: Bar Code Reader, entry of the randomly generated Alpha Numeric Code and/or Biometrics reader, etc. only as a ‘read only’ version. Once updated, the data to be frozen. The master control of data, that is, ability to edit data is to be carefully restricted and administrator key to be controlled with multiple checks and any modification thereof to be publicized.
In a detailed report, Sundaram suggests that the RIC should be administered by a statutory agency with autonomous functions and there should be training programmes for training enumerators, data operators, Circle Officers, BDOs and Officers-in-charge of police stations. “The outcome of the RIC project once implemented would be a virtual fence around Asom, as any new immigrant entering Asom would be without the ID and hence easily identified. Presently, there is no mechanism to stop any influx or to ascertain influx or to conclusively identify immigrants. Hence, there is no fence around Asom”, Sundaram said. RIC would not by itself throw the immigrant out of Asom but help in the speedy prosecution, and apprehension, wherever in Asom. RIC Project would help to ensure that no person who had lost or damaged his or her RIC would be unjustly targeted as a new immigrant, since the data can be retrieved through name and father’s/mother’s name and through facial recognition and finger printing technology platforms whichever is used. A duplicate RIC would immediately be issued to the concerned. Any person moving to a new area in Asom from earlier location in Asom can easily get it updated. Further, to ensure that misuse is not made of this procedure, the time line and movement path would be captured in the database. To ensure transparency, the basic data would be easily accessible on-line. Due to the Bar Code and 20 bit Alpha Numeric Codes and the On-line Bar Code Reader linked with Central Database which is tamper proof, the system cannot be breached or defrauded. Thus, immigrants would be identified.
The RIC has real time verification relevance. It requires a reader device comprising Bar Code Reader, digital camera, three finger print reader and typed data input device merged in one an accessible through net work. Being a hand held portable device, it would be user friendly. A team of officers can visit any locality and verify the identity of entire population. For mobile shadow areas, the data can be recorded on the spot and later verified by connecting to database. Hence it would act as virtual fence around Asom. THE SENTINEL
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