TNN Dec 21, 2011, 05.13AM IST
GANDHINAGAR: The Gujarat government's decision to implement top IT maven Nandan Nilekani's ambitious Unique Identity (UID) project is waiting for a date with chief minister Narendra Modi. A senior state official told TOI on Tuesday, "There appears to be some uncertainty."
Sources close to Modi said that the file for inaugurating the UID project was sent by state planning secretary Varun Maira, responsible for UID, to the chief minister's office (CMO) in mid-October. But Modi - despite his firm support to the project - is "unable to find time." The sources added that Modi wanted to roll out the project on November 1, but "nothing happened."
Significantly, after meeting Nilekani on July 25 this year, Modi had even decided to set up a unique data centre based on UID details at the directorate of economics and statistics, Gandhinagar. The aim was to allow government to access all manner of data - including that relating to property, bank and tax details of an individual - and to effect de-duplication of benefits from government schemes.
State officials are reasoning that Modi may be "unwilling to go ahead" as he had "formally protested" against the duplication of UID project by the Union home ministry, which is preparing a National Population Register (NPR) with similar methodology and data.
"Modi has told the Centre that there was lack of coordination at the Central level and it should be sorted out," an official said.