IDENTIFYING CITIZENS FOR MANAGEMENT AND WELFARE : PROPOSAL FOR AN ALTERNATE SYSTEM

October 30, 2013 By Bijon Sarma

ABSTRACT:
The most important objective of the government of any democratic country is to manage the citizens for the ultimate welfare of the people and the land. The first venture to do this is to know the Profile and Identify of the citizens. At present this job is done through a system involving secured "Identity Cards". This system was introduced long ago when nothing like cross-checking of information through internet, identification of the people in banks, identification in travelling and communication etc. were in use.
It is well-known that identification of the citizens serves dual purposes. These are, (i) citizen’s welfare and (ii) eradication of crimes. However, the various formalities followed by the government for ensuring the security of this card quite often frustrate its very objective. Also, such project has met failure in many developing countries due to low budget and inadequate facilities. By taking the scope of the new provisions and situations, it is now possible to introduce a system of issuing Profile and Identity cards to all citizens at nominal cost. Details of this scheme have been narrated in this article.

ARTICLE TEXT:
INTRODUCTION :
Quite often the governments of the democratic countries need to know some essential information of the citizens for ensuring their welfare or for maintaining disciplined situation in the country. The most commonly used instrument for this purpose is the use of “Identity Card”. This card was introduced long before modern systems like internet, instant communication through mobile phones, formalities for verification of the citizens' profile etc. were in use. As such the governments had to manufacture the National Identity Card containing photograph, signature, finger print etc. with extreme care, such that those could not be duplicated or pilfered. In these days, however, the most sophistically manufactured cards can be reproduced because the required equipments are available and technology is known.
In the secured cards, there was no provision for accommodating the natural changes like those in photograph or signature, and production of a new card was the only solution. Such a card usually has a 12 or more digit serial number, which is difficult for anyone to remember. That makes constant carrying of the card unavoidable. As for the government, the job of registering the huge number of citizens throughout the country, producing secured cards for all, monitoring, provision for replacement etc. creates a titanic and in many cases, unmanageable task.

After the introduction of new systems like internet, instant communication through mobile phones, formalities followed in various educational, financial, government and service institutions, mass literacy etc., if planned well, it is possible to do the above jobs quite easily with help and participation of all. Even though it is possible to introduce this system in all developing countries, in this article we shall explain the proposal in the background of Bangladesh only.
(THE FULL ARTICLE INCLUDING THE REST OF THIS ONE MAY BE SEEN IN PDF FORMAT)

Attached files:
MANAGING.pdf




Submit an Innovation Article