New Delhi, June 25: The government on Thursday appointed Infosys co-chairman Nandan Nilekani as the chairperson of Unique Identification Authority, formed to issue IDs to every citizen in the country.
The move to set up the UID Authority of India (UIDAI), under the aegis of the Planning Commission, is aimed at providing a unique identity to the targeted population of the flagship schemes to ensure that the benefits reach them, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters here after the Cabinet meeting.
As Chairman of the body, Nilekani will have Cabinet minister rank and status, she said.
“The Authority shall have the responsibilities to lay down plans and policies to implement the Unique Identification Scheme (UID), shall own and operate the Unique Identification number database and be responsible for its updation and maintenance on an ongoing basis,” she said.
The Authority will identify the targeted groups for various flagship programmes, she added.
The flagship schemes of the UPA include the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan, National Rural Health Mission and Bharat Nirman.
The unique identification number would ensure that any lacuna in these schemes is removed so that the benefits do not reach those they are not meant for.
The Government had earmarked Rs 100 crore in the interim Budget presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Parliament on February 16 to kickstart its ambitious Unique Identification Project.
The government has been working on improving arrangements to ensure that development deliverables reach the intended beneficiaries, Mukherjee had said.
In order to do so efficiently, effectively and economically, a comprehensive system of unique identity had been worked out, he had added.
The Government also plans to set up state units of UIDAI, headed by state UID Commissioners.
Earlier, an Empowered Group of Ministers had approved setting up UIDAI with an initial core team in November 2008.
Nilekani’s name was doing rounds for quite some time for the key post. This would be Nilekani’s second major role in formulating public policy after heading the task force on improving Bangalore.
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The programme will issue unique identification cards to every citizen by 2011. Besides addressing security concerns, the UID project will overhaul and direct the delivery mechanism for public goods and services to intended beneficiaries.
The project, which would cover even children, is aimed at establishing citizenship, reducing identity related frauds, addressing security issues and preventing leakages in different government schemes, sources said.
The identification number will be provided by the National Authority for Unique Identify (UID), an entity under the Planning Commission. It will work in coordination with the National Population Register of the Home Ministry through the Registrar General of the Census, in accordance with the Indian Citizenship Act.
In the beginning, the UID number will be assigned to all voters by building on current electoral roll data.
Progressively, other persons including those below 18 years of age will be added to the list. Photographs and biometric data will be added to make the identification foolproof, sources said, adding easy registration and information change procedures are also being envisaged for the benefit of the people.
The UID would facilitate people in availing basic government services like issuance of passports, driving licenses, electoral identity cards, etc. Backed by intensive use of technology, it is expected to facilitate easy verification of a person’s identity and enable a single communication to trigger address changes in all relevant agencies records.
Besides, it would also serve as the basis for many e-governance services incorporating on-line verification of a person’s identity and also ensure that benefits under various welfare programmes reach the intended beneficiaries.
–Agencies