A fresh controversy involving Aadhaar erupted on Thursday, when several android phone users questioned UIDAI on Twitter after they noticed default inclusion of UIDAI’s toll free number in their phone contact list.
After several complaints were made regarding the issue, UIDAI on Friday released a statement clarifying that they have not asked “any manufacturer or service provider for providing any such facility whatsoever.”
… It is clarified that, UIDAI has not asked or communicated to any manufacturer or service provider for providing any such facility whatsoever. 2/n
— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) August 3, 2018
It is emphasised that the said 18003001947 is not a valid UIDAI Toll free number and some vested interest are trying to create unwarranted confusion in the public. 3/n
— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) August 3, 2018
Our valid Toll free number is 1947 which is functional for more than the last two years. 4/5
— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) August 3, 2018
UIDAI has reiterated that it has not asked or advised anyone including any telecom service providers or mobile manufacturers or Android to include 18003001947 or 1947 in the default list of public service numbers.
#### 5/5— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) August 3, 2018
Amid public outrage over Aadhaar helpline number being pre-stored without user consent on certain mobile phones, Google on Friday night apologized for “inadvertently” loading the old UIDAI helpline number and 112 helpline number into the ‘setup wizard’ of android phones. The statement issued by Google reads, “Our internal review has revealed that in 2014, the then UIDAI helpline number and the 112 distress helpline number were inadvertently coded into the setup wizard of the Android release given to OEMs (Original equipment manufacturers) for use in India and has remained there since. Since the numbers get listed on a user’s contact list these get transferred accordingly to the contacts on any new device.” Google apologized for the same and further said, “We are sorry for any concern that this might have caused, and would like to assure everyone that this is not a situation of an unauthorized access of their Android devices. Users can manually delete the number from their devices.” It also said that it will work towards fixing this in an upcoming release of SetUp wizard which will be made available to OEMs over the next few weeks.
After the UIDAI’s statement, telecom lobby group, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) also released a statement, saying, “The inclusion of a certain unknown number in the phone books of various mobile handsets is not from any telecom service provider.”
And this is how another attempt of liberal-leftists lobby to malign Aadhaar card has abjectly failed. Last week TRAI chief RS Sharma exposed the hollowness of arguments of critics over Aadhaar card.
Now, the moot question here is why liberal-leftists are madly after the Aadhaar cards. Some of them even trended #destroyAADHAAR. The AADHAAR card has been a boon for the Indian people. It has removed a lot of paperwork and red-tapism. Now, the applicants by using AADHAAR card can easily get a passport as compared to earlier times. It has become a one step solution to a lot of problems. How many times have you fretted over the dreaded list of valid documents? Ration card for gas connection, driving license for ration card, passport for driving license, pan card for passport, there was no end to this madness. If Aadhaar promises to provide us with a 1 document solution to the conundrum, by giving us a universal photo ID proof, what’s wrong in that? AADHAAR has not only raised the bar of transparency but has also created credibility in governance and identified free hoarders to eliminate duplications and fakes who have eaten into the system.