Aarogya Setu must be given institutional backing to address privacy concern
Caste census in Bihar: will it aid developmental work or fuel social divide?
Caste is a deeply rooted factor in Bihar politics. The survey for the much-talked-about caste census began in the state on January 7 and it is likely to be completed by May 31, 2023. How will it affect the state? Will it aid in developmental work as claimed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, or fuel further social divide in the state?
‘Kala Azar’ now confined in only 4 districts of Bihar and Jharkhand; people’s awareness key to eliminate it: Modi
Till recently, the scourge of ‘Kala Azar’ was spread in more than 50 districts across 4 states. But now this disease is confined to only 4 districts of Bihar and Jharkhand. Awareness of the people of Bihar-Jharkhand will help the government’s efforts to eliminate ‘Kala Azar’ from these four districts as well, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said.
When will India become a developed nation? It will take at least 20 years, says Ex-RBI Governor
There have been several targets and projections for India to become a developed nation. But, when exactly, can India become a developed nation? According to the former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor C Rangarajan, it will take at least two decades of sustained 8 to 9 per cent of annual GDP growth to take India into a developed nation league.
Mudra Yojana: Rs 20.43 lakh crore loan disbursed since inception in 2015
More than 37.76 crore collateral-free loans amounting to over Rs 20.43 lakh crore have been disbursed to small businesses and entrepreneurs across the country under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) scheme since its inception in April 2015, the government data shows.
Giriraj Singh calls for need-based skill mapping for employment and training in rural India
Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Giriraj Singh has called for need-based skill mapping for employment and training to India’s youth, mainly in the rural areas. The Minister urged to explore means to see how best the traditional trades can be integrated with electronic, education and training, IT & BPO and tourism and hospitality sectors to create more employment opportunities for the youth in the country.
By Saket Suman
Contact tracing app Aarogya Setu has been made mandatory for both government and private sector employees in India. The app is useful in tracing the Covid-19 cases. The app will be effective only if the majority of the people use it. To achieve its objectives the government is aggressively pushing for the use of this app.
Besides employees, it has been made mandatory for the people within a containment zone.
In the coming days the government is likely to keep pushing for its uses. It makes it imperative to address the privacy concern. Democratic values and civil liberties of the common people must be protected. This can be achieved by giving the app an institutional backing.
“Use of Aarogya Setu app shall be made mandatory for all employees, both private and public. It shall be the responsibility of the head of the respective organisations to ensure 100 per cent coverage of this app among the employees,” the government said in a statement.
Several experts and politicians have raised concern over the possible misuse of the app. The government may use it for surveillance and harass its adversaries.
“The Arogya Setu app, is a sophisticated surveillance system, outsourced to a pvt operator, with no institutional oversight – raising serious data security & privacy concerns. Technology can help keep us safe; but fear must not be leveraged to track citizens without their consent,” Former Congress Party President Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that it will be mandatory for the residents of the Containment Zone to use Aarogya Setu app. “The local authority shall ensure 100 per cent coverage of Aarogya Setu app among the residents of the Containment Zone,” Ministry of Home Affairs said while announcing the extension of the nationwide lockdown for the second time. The lockdown has been extended for another two weeks beginning May 4.
The government has aggressively pushed for the uses of the app saying it won’t create privacy issues.
Defending the app Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar said the app will help “curbs false information and you also know if there is a COVID-19 positive person in your vicinity. The app will continue for next 1-2 years.”
“Daily a new lie. Aarogya Setu is a powerful companion which protects people. It has a robust data security architecture. Those who indulged in surveillance all their lives, won’t know how tech can be leveraged for good!” Union Minister for Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad said in reply to Rahul Gandhi’s tweet.
Aarogya Setu mobile app was launched by the government of India on 2 April with an objective to enable people to assess themselves the risk of their catching the Corona Virus infection. The app calculates the risk based on the user’s interaction with others, using cutting edge Bluetooth technology, algorithms and artificial intelligence.
The user, upon installation, is asked to answer a number of questions. In case some of the answers suggest COVID-19 symptoms, the information is sent to the Government server. This helps the government take timely steps and initiate the isolation procedure if necessary and it also alerts if someone comes in close proximity with a person tested positive. The app is available on both Google Play (for Android phones) and iOS app store (for iphones ). It is available in 11 languages – 10 Indian language and English.
[starbox id = “Saket”]
