Oldest PSU to develop first biometric EVM

The countrys oldest public sector undertaking (PSU) is all set to play a major role in ushering in a new era in the way elections are conducted in the country. Bangalore-based ITI Limited is on the verge of developing what could be the countrys first biometric electronic voting machine (EVM).

With concerns over whether the EVMs that the Election Commission of India (EC) presses into service during elections can be hacked,the biometric EVMs could effectively end all debate about the fairness of the electoral process. In October last,the then Chief Election Commissioner,N Gopalaswami,had said that the EC was considering introduction of biometric EVMs. Last week,the EC held a meeting with Nandan Nilekani,recently-appointed chief of the UID project,where the issue of biometric EVMs was also discussed.

The biometric EVMs,which the ITI Ltd is developing,would identify voters by their fingerprints,thereby putting an end to all bogus voting and impersonation. When contacted,Lt Col A M Uniyal (retd),General Manager (R&D),ITI Ltd,confirmed that the company was working on the new type of EVMs. Beyond that I cant tell you anything, he said.

A source in the EC said with the Government of India having already set up an authority to provide unique identity cards to the citizens,the problem of a database of biometric prints of the voters would automatically be solved.