Centre appoints Nilekani head of unique ID agency

The centre on Thursday appointed Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani as chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), an agency that will provide unique identity cards to citizens to ensure that the benefits of the government’s flagship schemes reach the people.

As chairman of the UIDAI, Nilekani will enjoy the rank of a cabinet minister with a task force of 1,400 people.

Nilekani, 54, has resigned as co-chairman of the Indian software giant to lead the authority, which has been created under the aegis of the Planning Commission. Nilekani’s resignation would be effective from July 9, Infosys said in a statement.
Nilekani described the appointment as “humbling”. It had been a tough decision to quit “a company that I’ve been part of for 30 years” and the appointment was a chance to do something for the country, he told a TV news channel in New Delhi.

He is the personal choice of prime minister Manmohan Singh, who is keen on inducting talented professionals in managerial and decision-making positions in the government. Though the PM failed to get Montek Singh Ahluwalia and former RBI governor C Rangarajan inducted into the finance ministry, he had his way this time.

Singh had been keen to get Nilekani on board for some time now, but the former Infosys chairman took his time to make up his mind. According to senior government sources, Nilekani insisted on a position and status that was in keeping with his expertise and experience, besides a certain amount of functional autonomy. He agreed to head the authority only after his demands were addressed, sources said.

His appointment was ratified by the Union cabinet at its meeting on Thursday.
Infosys chairman and mentor NR Narayana Murthy said: “We are glad that an extraordinary individual like Nandan has got an opportunity to add value to India through this position. As a company that has always put the interest of society ahead of itself, Infosys will accept his absence with a sense of duty to a larger cause.”

In November 2008, an empowered group of ministers had approved setting up UIDAI with an initial core team.

Under Nilekani, the new authority “shall lay down plans and policies to implement the unique identification (UID) scheme, shall own and operate the unique identification number database and be responsible for its updation and maintenance on an ongoing basis,” information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni told reporters.

The authority will identify the targeted groups for various flagship programmes of the UPA government, such as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan, National Rural Health Mission and Bharat Nirman.

The Centre also plans to set up state units of UIDAI, headed by state UID commissioners.

The government plans to implement the project in three years. Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee had set aside Rs100 crore for the unique identity project in the interim budget presented before the Lok Sabha election in February.

All about unique identity
What?
It will be a permanent identification number — from birth to death — aimed at eliminating the need for multiple identifications. Photographs and biometric data will be included to make the identification perfect.

Who?  
It will cover all citizens, including those below 18 years of age. To start with, the unique IDs will be given to those on electoral rolls.

Why?  
It will help in establishing citizenship, reduce identity related frauds, address security issues and ensure that benefits of schemes reach the people.