17-01-2010, 05:19 PM
Prepared by: TALAJIA DIPESH S.
ABSTRACT
The Government of India has approved the proposal to use multiapplication smart cards with Unique Identities (UIDs) for citizens to facilitate easy verification, availing of government or private services, help welfare programs reach intended beneficiaries and for serving as basis for e-Governance. Empowered Group of Ministers (EGOM) headed by the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherji has approved the setting up of a Unique Identity (UID) Authority for this purpose. The proposed system envisages collaboration among several government agencies backed by intensive use of information technology. It would help every individual for a variety of purposes such as better targeting of government's development schemes, regulatory purposes (including taxation and licensing), security purposes, banking and financial sector activities. The Unique Identity (UID) project seeks to assign a UID number to each individual in the country that would remain a permanent identifier right from birth to death of the individual. The UID would obviate the need for a person to produce multiple documentary proofs of his identity for availing of any government service, or private services like opening of a bank account. This would end needless harassment that people face for availing of basic government services like issuance of passports, driving licenses and electoral identity cards. Backed by intensive use of technology, it would greatly facilitate easy verification of a person's identity and enable a single communication to trigger address changes in all relevant agencies records. It would also serve as the basis for many e-Governance services incorporating online verification of a person's identity. UID would enable government to ensure that benefits under various welfare programs reach the intended beneficiaries, prevent cornering of benefits by a few people and minimize frauds. to all Indians. The authority would provide a database of residents containing very simple data in biometrics. The agency is headed by a chairman, holds a cabinet rank. The UIDAI is part of the Planning Commission of India.
Nandan Nilekani, a former cochairman of Infosys Technologies, was appointed as the first Chairman of the authority in June 2009. R.S Sharma, an IAS Officer of Jharkhand Government cadre has been appointed as the Director General and Mission Director of the Authority. He is known for his best effort in e-Governance project. Actually the authority was notified on January 28 this year as an attached office under the aegis of the Planning Commission with an initial core team of 115 officials and staff. The scheme will be implemented in three years. The UID project, however, has been in the offing for over six years. For instance, in 2008, the government implemented a pilot project for a MNIC “Multi-Purpose National Identity Card “in 13 districts of 12 states and one Union Territory wherein more than 1.2 million identity cards were issued to people above 18 years of age. Unique Identification Authority of India TALAJIA DIPESH S. Page No: 9 of 43 Besides, to facilitate the project, Section 14A was inserted in the Citizenship Act, 1955 to issue a national identity card to every citizen of the country. The MNIC project was initiated under the Vajpayee-led NDA government and continued by the current UPA government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The government has earmarked Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion) in the interim budget to kickstart the UID project. This pilot is expected to be on the lines of the social security number in the US (United States). It's a transformational project for the country as it will overlay many underlying projects, creating huge efficiencies for the country leading to enhanced governance and reduced costs. The project envisages assigning a unique identification number to each resident in the country to eliminate the need for multiple identification mechanisms. The necessity for a centrally-issued ID was accentuated by the growing problems of illegal immigrants in various parts of the country. However, the events of November 26 in Mumbai accelerated the setting up of the UIDAI. The UID will be issued to people living in the coastal villages of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa , Karnataka, Kerala , Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal. The Union Territories of Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Lakshadweep, Puducherry and Andaman & Nicobar Islands shall also be covered in this first phase expected to deliver the identity cards by early 2010.