Alleged theft of ECHS data by private company
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
RAJYA SABHA
QUESTION NO 654
ANSWERED ON: 17.12.2018
Alleged theft of ECHS data by private company
654 Shri Majeed Memon
Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state :-
(a) whether it is a fact that there has been a possible theft of data of 50 lakh ex-servicemen by a private vendor;
(b) if so, whether the data were safely handed over to Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) by a vendor without retaining a copy and the vendor shared the data with a third party on termination of contract; and
(c) the reasons as to why the Ministry instead of ordering a probe into the matter asked ECHS to get a confirmation from the vendor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE
(a) to (c): There is no known input to suggest that data has been compromised. The data has been handed over to ECHS by SITL. However, some source codes and keys were not handed over. M/s SITL has not given any confirmation regarding retention of a copy of data of ESM despite repeated reminders. Action has been initiated for taking legal action against the firm.
Source: Rajya Sabha