KOZHIKODE, August 20, 2011
STAFF REPORTER
Move to involve private players in project
Akshaya entrepreneurs in the district have expressed their concern over the appointment of a private agency to carry out the data gathering process under the Union government's UID (Unique Identification Number) project.
According to leaders of the Akshaya Entrepreneurs Association, the move is likely to put in trouble hundreds of small entrepreneurs who have invested money believing the government's word that no other agency will be given the work.
As per a State government order, only three agencies, Akshaya, Keltron, and IT@School, are entitled to conduct the data collection process on a mutually agreed payment system. Relying on the order, several entrepreneurs had approached regional banking firms and got loans sanctioned to purchase scanning accessories worth Rs.1.50 lakh.
The leaders say that nine sets of such hi-tech scanning accessories are now ready with the entrepreneurs. Twelve more sets will reach them soon.
“If the plan of the government is to encourage private players in the field, the Akshaya entrepreneurs will be forced to launch a strong agitation,” says N. Nadheer, chairman of the association. According to him, over 80 entrepreneurs in the district will plunge into financial crises if the project is hijacked by outside agencies.
Mr. Nadheer says, “The association has already submitted a complaint to the District Collector demanding his intervention on the issue. We have drawn his attention to the practice of private players making use of public amenities for data collection.''
Officials with the Akshaya clarify that they are not informed of the participation of private players in the data gathering process with modern computer operating systems. “We have been asked to make use of free software and coordinate the activities with the support of Akshaya entrepreneurs,” they say.
Akshaya entrepreneurs in the district have expressed their concern over the appointment of a private agency to carry out the data gathering process under the Union government's UID (Unique Identification Number) project.
According to leaders of the Akshaya Entrepreneurs Association, the move is likely to put in trouble hundreds of small entrepreneurs who have invested money believing the government's word that no other agency will be given the work.
As per a State government order, only three agencies, Akshaya, Keltron, and IT@School, are entitled to conduct the data collection process on a mutually agreed payment system. Relying on the order, several entrepreneurs had approached regional banking firms and got loans sanctioned to purchase scanning accessories worth Rs.1.50 lakh.
The leaders say that nine sets of such hi-tech scanning accessories are now ready with the entrepreneurs. Twelve more sets will reach them soon.
“If the plan of the government is to encourage private players in the field, the Akshaya entrepreneurs will be forced to launch a strong agitation,” says N. Nadheer, chairman of the association. According to him, over 80 entrepreneurs in the district will plunge into financial crises if the project is hijacked by outside agencies.
Mr. Nadheer says, “The association has already submitted a complaint to the District Collector demanding his intervention on the issue. We have drawn his attention to the practice of private players making use of public amenities for data collection.''
Officials with the Akshaya clarify that they are not informed of the participation of private players in the data gathering process with modern computer operating systems. “We have been asked to make use of free software and coordinate the activities with the support of Akshaya entrepreneurs,” they say.