Karnataka to get first batch of Unique Identity cards, says Nilekani

Nandan Nilekani, chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) addressed a conference to brief on the progress of the project. People in Karnataka are set to be the first ones to recieve the registrations and cards for the ambitious project of the UIDAI.

Karnataka, with its thriving science and technology edge has been chosen to pioneer the ushering in of the project.

"Karnataka is a very good state, as one of the very first states to roll out, but we welcome all states," the national chief of the Unique Identity Identification project, Nandan Nilekani said.

Many people have doubts, however if the man who voluntarily moved from heading Infosys to head the Government's project from a dingy office in New Delhi will be able to pull it off to the end.

Nilekani minces no words when accepting that it is not a cakewalk but assures that he already has thought of how to carry it through.

"Certainly, it is a challenging job. But we feel that if we can define good standards, package everything and operate everything as a system, as a platform...then I think acceptance will be easier," Nilekani said.

But many fear that this ambitious project may not become a huge success as it is not yet made mandatory. Questions are already being raised over meeting Nilekani's 12-18 months deadline.

The mammoth task will require an expansive sweep of IT database. IT global giants like Infosys and Microsoft have already expressed their interest in bidding for the project. Many wonder if this will bring any clash of interest, however.

Nilekani has a blueprint ready for that too.

"We will have some kind of a vendor conference where we will invite all the companies and in one place present the whole thinking to them so that everybody understands how this is going to go. That will create a very transparent method of selecting vendors," Nilekani said

Courtesy:ibn.com

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