UID number to give poor greater access to govt schemes: Nandan Nilekani

The Unique Identification (UID) Number likely to be rolled-out in 2011, will help the poor to access the benefits of various government schemes with greater ease, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) chairman, Nandan Nilekani has said.

"This project is pro-poor and inclusive and targeted mainly towards the poor. The middle-class and the rich have some form of identity. People on the margins are getting lost because of lack of identity," Nilekani said at an event in Mumbai last evening.

The ex-Infosys official who now heads the UIDAI, said the aim of the project was to provide a robust system to eliminate duplicate and fake identities.

"Exclusion of the poor from the mainstream is mainly due to lack of identity and the UID will help them to get all sorts of benefits," Nilekani said.

The 16-digit unique number is likely to be rolled out in 2011.

"UID is not just a number but a passport that opens many doors," he said. A three-member team of Indian Instittute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) students showed a presentaion on UID scheme to Nilekani at the event.

According to students Nilekani should make use of NGOs and SHGs for promoting UID among the urban and rural poor besides eliciting services of post office and the All India Radio for easy penetration in rural areas.

"Also, you (Nilekani) should co-ordinate with FMCG companies to propagate this information on their products like soap and salt," they said.