Aadhaar use, misuse
The Aadhaar card has come to be regarded as an all-purpose de facto proof of identity; a photocopy is being demanded and shared freely wherever it needs to be produced (Page 1, “Centre retracts caution on Aadhaar photocopies”, May 30). It is difficult to understand what kind of “normal prudence” can be observed; where a copy needs to be submitted, it has to be submitted. It would be far better if the Government releases a list of places where a copy of Aadhaar need not or should not be shared. When it comes to the ‘masked Aadhaar’, ordinary citizens cannot be expected to have the knowledge or wherewithal to download the same, without depending on some private Internet centre — the risk of misuse by the service provider cannot be ruled out. In these circumstances, it would be better if the Government issues an original “masked Aadhaar” along with the normal Aadhaar card at the time it is issued and advise citizens to share a copy of the ‘masked Aadhaar’ only wherever a photocopy needs to be submitted as proof of identity. For citizens who have already been issued a normal Aadhaar card, a ‘masked Aadhaar’ may be issued to them immediately.
Kosaraju Chandramouli,
