Former UIDAI chief Nilekani hails Srikrishna panel’s proposed data protection Bill

Terming it an ‘extraordinary effort’ and ‘original in its thinking’, Nandan Nilekani, the former chairperson of the Unique Identification Development Authority of India (UIDAI), hailed the Justice BN Srikrishna committee’s proposed Personal Data Protection Bill on Friday.

Terming it an ‘extraordinary effort’ and ‘original in its thinking’, Nandan Nilekani, the former chairperson of the Unique Identification Development Authority of India (UIDAI), hailed the Justice BN Srikrishna committee’s proposed Personal Data Protection Bill on Friday.

Nandan Nilekani emphasised that the Srikrishna committee had recognised that the issue of data went beyond privacy and extended to empowerment. (File Photo)

In an interview, Nilekani said, “I think it is a comprehensive set of proposals. The committee has understood that India is different from US, Europe and China. It has its own challenges and opportunities. The report and the draft bill address these challenges and opportunities...”

He emphasised that the committee had recognised the issue of data went beyond privacy and extended to empowerment. “When data is going to be so common, we need a framework that protects an individual’s data privacy but also uses data as a lever to improve the lives of people.”

On the implication of the proposed bill on Aadhaar, Nilekani, considered the architect of the unique identity card, said, “They have dealt with Aadhaar very carefully. On one hand, they have said UIDAI should be made autonomous. On the other, they have also said that Aadhaar should be brought within the larger framework of privacy.”