Tuesday, April 14, 2015

India: Using biometrics to protect vulnerable children

Aadhaar goes to orphanages, joins war on child trafficking (Bangalore Mirror)
Aadhaar's comprehensive database that comprises iris (retina scan) and biometric (fingerprint) information is hoped to aid enforcement agencies find missing children, curb human trafficking and check illegal adoptions. Aadhaar enrolments have begun in Karnataka for children in child care institutes run by the state government's Department of Women and Child Development. Nearly 4,000 kids and youngsters are in care of state homes and will get identity cards.
A couple of notes:

Aadhaar means "foundation." An alternate name for the Aadhaar Project is the UID Project for Universal ID.

In the quoted passage above, "child care institutes" are orphanages rather than the child care centers some readers may be more familiar with.