Unique ID Card To End Duplicate Identity, Says Nilekani

Nandan Nilekani, chairperson of the newly set-up Unique Identification Authority of India (UIAI) to provide each Indian an identity card, today said a major problem at present is duplicate identity in many of the government systems, leading to fraud.

The new authority would help end ID card duplication by creating a network of verification and authentication, Nilekani, co-founder of IT major Infosys, said after meeting Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa.

“A major problem today with identity is that many (government) systems have lot of duplicates leading to fraud,” he said.

Yeddyurappa facilitated Nilekani on his new assignment. Nilekani quit the Infosys co-chairman’s post as also stepped down from the company’s board on Thursday, July 9, following his appointment as head of the UIAI.

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The UIAI would create a national database of Indian residents. It would use bio-metrics, fingerprints and other methods necessary to ensure people have a unique number. This would end the problem of duplicates, he added.

On the time the authority would need to complete the process, Nilekani said, “First I have to find an office.”

A hunt is on at Delhi for office premises for the new authority, which will function under India’s Planning Commission, which is headed by the prime minister. (IANS)