As UIDAI progresses to the next level, it faces new challenges, even as some old ones remain
17 Apr, 2012, 12.28PM IST, M Rajshekhar & Shelley SinghM Rajshekhar & Shelley Singh,ET
Bureau
Budget 2012 was good to
the Unique Identification Authority of India- the state entity with a
private-sector soul that wants to create a definitive identity system
for all Indians and overhaul the delivery of Rs 3,00,000 crore of
welfare payments.
Nandan Nilekani, its head, was the only person to be mentioned by name in finance minister Pranab Mukherjee's budget speech. He also mentioned Aadhaar, the unique ID it will issue, 11 times. He said this government will issue I-cards with Aadhaar numbers to all residents above 18 years of age, and drive welfare measures like subsidies, pensions and PDS benefits through the Aadhaar platform.
The government seemed to be throwing all its weight behind UIDAI again-a contrast to six months ago, when it sat on the fence as a barrage of criticism was hurled at UIDAI. Even as Mukherjee was making a political and operational statement, the UIDAI was looking at its first numbers from its other place of validation: the real world.
The results of its eight transaction pilots delivered a better outcome than the present systems, but not the ideal. As the UIDAI transits to its next stage of work, of enabling cash transfers, it is being tested again. Not just in the field with new questions, but also off it with some old ones.
Nandan Nilekani, its head, was the only person to be mentioned by name in finance minister Pranab Mukherjee's budget speech. He also mentioned Aadhaar, the unique ID it will issue, 11 times. He said this government will issue I-cards with Aadhaar numbers to all residents above 18 years of age, and drive welfare measures like subsidies, pensions and PDS benefits through the Aadhaar platform.
The government seemed to be throwing all its weight behind UIDAI again-a contrast to six months ago, when it sat on the fence as a barrage of criticism was hurled at UIDAI. Even as Mukherjee was making a political and operational statement, the UIDAI was looking at its first numbers from its other place of validation: the real world.
The results of its eight transaction pilots delivered a better outcome than the present systems, but not the ideal. As the UIDAI transits to its next stage of work, of enabling cash transfers, it is being tested again. Not just in the field with new questions, but also off it with some old ones.
