Risk of data tampering in Assam's NRC updation process: CAG report

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has flagged the risk of data tampering in the NRC for Assam due to improper software development related to data capture and correction during the updation process of the citizenship documentA highly secure and reliable software was required to be developed for the National Register of Citizens NRC updation exercise but during the audit lack of proper planning in this regard came to the foreThe updated final NRC which validates bonafide Indian citizens of Assam was released on August 31 2019 with total 31121004 names included out of 33027661 applicants though it is yet to be notifiedThe CAG submitted a report for the year ended in 2020 on the last day of the winter session of the Assam Assembly on Saturday which pointed out that 215 software utilities were added in a haphazard manner to the core softwareIt was done without following the due process of either software development or selection of vendor through eligibility assessment following a national tendering the report saidHaphazard development of software and utilities for NRC data capture and correction posed the risk of data tampering without leaving any audit trail The audit trail could have ensured accountability for the veracity of NRC data the CAG report saidIt maintained that the objective of preparing a valid errorfree NRC has not been met despite entailing huge expenditure to the state exchequerAccording to the report there have been irregularities in the utilisation of funds including excess and inadmissible payment to vendorsThe CAG report on compliance audit of logistical arrangements for NRC updation project in Assam recommended fixing responsibility on erring authorities for the financial irregularities and penal action against Ms Wipro Limited the system integrator for violating Minimum Wages ActThe NRC was updated in Assam under the supervision of a Supreme Court benchThe CAG report maintained that the objective of preparing a valid errorfree NRC has not been met despite entailing huge expenditure to the state exchequerIt noted that the initial project cost was estimated at Rs 28818 crore when the NRC updation process had commenced in December 2014 and the deadline for completion was set for February 2015The final draft of the document was however published in August 2019 and the project cost escalated to Rs 160266 crore expenditure of Rs 157978 crore was reported the CAG report saidIt said that test check of records by audit has revealed various irregularities in the utilisation of fund including excess and inadmissible payment to vendorsiquestThe report has recommended fixing of responsibility and action against the State Coordinator of National Registration SCNR for the excess irregular and inadmissible paymentsThe commissioner and secretary political department government of Assam was designated as the SCNR to carry out the NRC updation exerciseMentioning nonadherence to Minimum Wages Act in payment to operators by Ms Wipro Limited as revealed during its audit the CAG recommended penal action against the system integratorAccountability of the SCNR as principal employer should also be fixed for not ensuring compliance with the MW Act the report addedAssam which had faced influx of people from Bangladesh since the early 20th century is the only state having an NRC which was first prepared in 1951This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever