The Hindu : Front Page : Nilekani to head Unique Identification Authority

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Friday, Jun 26, 2009
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Nilekani to head Unique Identification Authority

P. Sunderarajan

Quits Infosys; UID numbers planned for citizens to access government services

Nandan M. Nilekani

NEW DELHI: Nandan M. Nilekani, co-chairman of the Board of Directors of Infosys Technologies, is all set to join the Central government, as chairperson of the Unique Identification (UID) Authority of India. It is a new agency set up to provide unique identification numbers or UID numbers to all citizens for accessing various government services.

According to reports from Bangalore, following the Cabinet decision, Mr. Nilekani has resigned from the membership of the Infosys’ Board of Directors as also as its co-chairman.

The Union Cabinet on Thursday cleared the creation of the new post, which will have the rank and status of a Cabinet Minister. The authority will have the mandate to own and operate a database of the UID numbers and be responsible for its updating and maintenance regularly.

The cards will serve as a means to access a variety of government-related activities. For instance, the UID numbers and the database will be linked to agencies such as the Election Commission of India and the Income Tax Department, which deal with the general public and issue special number cards such as voters photo identity cards in the case of ECI and PAN Cards in the case of IT Departments.

In addition, it will be used for providing services under government schemes such as the public distribution system, and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for families living below the poverty line. It will also be used for delivering financial and other assistance to the needy.

Mr. Nilekani has been chosen to head the authority considering that the project will be based on various tools and techniques of Information Technology and there will be need to keep updating the system.

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