Letters to the Editor

Why Adhaar is Causing Such Alarm

The 12-digit number issued by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is stored in a centralised database and linked to demographics and biometric information – photograph, ten fingerprints etc. Apart from being identity proof, the Aadhaar number is also used for governments’ direct benefit transfer schemes. The recent breach of the data and service providers’ aggrassive drive to obtain users’ Aadhaar number has raised serious questions and objections. In France, a State initiative for a centralised database said that the data was vulucrable to exploitation. After UK’s ID Cards Act, the government destroyed all biometrics information that had been collected.

Satish Kumar Sarma,

Kalyanpur,

Biswath Chariali.

Sour Grapes?

With the advent of the panchayat polls and again with the passage of almost more than one and half years in power at Dispur, the BJP-led government is facing some interl dissension. Some of the MLAs of BJP seem to be unhappy due to non-expansion of the government as they allege that the present bunch of ministers are overburdened with workload. Even some discarded leaders of the alliance partner AGP, mely Kamala Kalita, Praffulla Mahanta,Prabin Deka etc too have some serious heartburn. The sour grapes theory has again come to hit the BJP. Such leaders, after being denied ministerial berths, are calling the central leaders sour grapes.

Lanu Dutta Chowdhury,

GNB Road, Guwahati.

Of Walking Zone

The decision of the State government as well as district administration to convert the road from Sukleashwar ghat to Bharalumukh point as walking zone on every Sunday is a laudable step. Initially when it was first started, I was a bit sceptical about it but on last Sunday when I, along with my family, had been to that walking zone, my whole confusion was washed away. The whole of the riverfront was illumited with lights and sitting arrangements were made for elderly people. The most important thing is that children of different age categories were seen enjoying in the open space which is hardly available nowadays in the city. The only disturbing or 'eyesore' point was innumerable unhygienic food stalls being erected. Otherwise it is an fantastic idea and Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who had taken the initiative to start the walking zone deserves praise for this innovative idea.

Apar Chowdhury,

GNB Road Guwahati.