TNN | Jun 24, 2011, 07.16am IST
BANGALORE: Manish Malik of Hazel Media, a company based in Noida, has developed Indian language support for low cost phones that can be used for applications developed around the government's Unique Identification (UID) project. "Given that the project is trying to reach millions of people, low cost phones and local language will be critical," Malik said.
Malik's solution was one of those that IT industry body Nasscom had chosen to display at a conference it had organized in Bangalore on Thursday to highlight the opportunities that the UID project (called Aadhaar) is now creating.
Speaking at the event, UID chairman Nandan Nilekani called on developers to integrate the Aadhar platform in applications and develop software surrounding it. He said the backend infrastructure was in place, and the project was now entering the second phase where applications and devices were required.
The Aadhar platform intends to offer a unique identification for every citizen. But its utility extends beyond identification, as it will potentially enable citizens to gain greater access to public services and empower the marginalized to seek their rights.
Since the UIDAI implements an open-system , plug and play approach , entrepreneurs and startups can develop applications in numerous areas. Some of the applications of Aadhar is seen in areas such as food distribution, financial inclusion, and know you customer services. Applications can even be developed for multiplexes or railway ticket checkers to verify the identities of those who have booked tickets online.
"Imagination is the limit as far as what applications could be built upon the Aadhar platform," Nilekani said.
Nilekani added that UID would create for the first time in the country a national devices' infrastructure that is inter-operable . He said devices compliant with Aadhaar standards -- whether they are in bank branches or kirana stores or post offices or in schools or public health centres or anywhere -- would be inter-operable . This would allow access from one to the other.
The exhibition had several devices players showcasing a variety of fingerprint and biometric scanners. Govind Agrawal, founder of Anaxee, a company based in Indore that has developed scanners, said the kind of scanners required could be different for different purposes . Some are weatherproof and would be useful where these need to be kept in outdoor locations; some work well even if the fingers are wet or have oil on them. "We expect recruitment firms, construction companies and all kinds of others will use such devices to authenticate identities and provide services ," Agrawal said.
Nilekani said one million Indian residents are expected to enroll daily for UID from October. The target is to enroll 600 million people in the next three and a half years. As of now close to 1 crore people have enrolled .
Malik's solution was one of those that IT industry body Nasscom had chosen to display at a conference it had organized in Bangalore on Thursday to highlight the opportunities that the UID project (called Aadhaar) is now creating.
Speaking at the event, UID chairman Nandan Nilekani called on developers to integrate the Aadhar platform in applications and develop software surrounding it. He said the backend infrastructure was in place, and the project was now entering the second phase where applications and devices were required.
The Aadhar platform intends to offer a unique identification for every citizen. But its utility extends beyond identification, as it will potentially enable citizens to gain greater access to public services and empower the marginalized to seek their rights.
Since the UIDAI implements an open-system , plug and play approach , entrepreneurs and startups can develop applications in numerous areas. Some of the applications of Aadhar is seen in areas such as food distribution, financial inclusion, and know you customer services. Applications can even be developed for multiplexes or railway ticket checkers to verify the identities of those who have booked tickets online.
"Imagination is the limit as far as what applications could be built upon the Aadhar platform," Nilekani said.
Nilekani added that UID would create for the first time in the country a national devices' infrastructure that is inter-operable . He said devices compliant with Aadhaar standards -- whether they are in bank branches or kirana stores or post offices or in schools or public health centres or anywhere -- would be inter-operable . This would allow access from one to the other.
The exhibition had several devices players showcasing a variety of fingerprint and biometric scanners. Govind Agrawal, founder of Anaxee, a company based in Indore that has developed scanners, said the kind of scanners required could be different for different purposes . Some are weatherproof and would be useful where these need to be kept in outdoor locations; some work well even if the fingers are wet or have oil on them. "We expect recruitment firms, construction companies and all kinds of others will use such devices to authenticate identities and provide services ," Agrawal said.
Nilekani said one million Indian residents are expected to enroll daily for UID from October. The target is to enroll 600 million people in the next three and a half years. As of now close to 1 crore people have enrolled .
