An ambitious project AADHAR which was conceived by UIADI could be a revolution in transforming India if implemented properly.This is a mammoth project with huge complexities and resource requirements.One estimate says that to completely roll out this project it would cost around Rs.1,50,000 cr($33.45 bn).A project of this magnitude requires a thorough scruitiny of pros and cons and a carefull cost benifit analysis.Also there should be a carefully drawn out strategy of what to do and how to do.Has the UIDAI done enough homework to make sure to achieve the real moto of AADHAR?It is up to the reader to answer this question.
In the words of Nandan Nilekhani(UIDAI chief) ,there is an urgent need to automate the interface between the government and citizen.According to him this is the area where corruption breeds.This is very right.Some examples for these interfaces are like ,application for a gas connection or ration card, receiving certain services like ration and compensation for crop damages and MNREGA wages etc.If we can restrict physical transfer of money direcly form govt to citizen most of the low level corruption can be checked. In this case I think Aadhar alone cannot do miracles.Recent Public services act(which has been adopted in many states) along with Aadhar could be successful.
The biggest question is how an Aadhar number can make this possible?The first thing that we hear more frequently about Aadhar is to revamp the PDS .Here the idea is to empower citizen vis –a –vis FPS owners.it means ,BPL citizen can go to any FPS he wants and can get the ration by simply showing his aadhar number and giving his biometric details.This empowers the citizen from being exploited by a single FPS owner to whom the citizen belonged to.Yes ,certainly it is a good idea,but I think our policy makers(UIDAI officials) did not take into account certain villages which are very isolated and far from other habitations to avail the above benifits.Because they had to go to the only FPS available to them.
There are 6 lakh Fair price shops present in India.There is a need to provide robust Aadhar infrastructure like biometric scnners, computers, printers,internet connection and skilled manpower in every FPS to integrate it with Aadhar.It would again place a huge burden on exchequer and also going to take very long time.Some people argue to the extent that it may not be possible practically.If it really so,it would be a great mistake in the part of govt.So there is an urgent need to chalkout a clear strategy (which is currently lacking now) to implement all the stated goals of Aadhar .It has to place the implementation plan in public domain and take people into confidence.
Also officials are talking about integrating all welfare schemes with Aadhar.This calls for the deployment of e-infrastructure at a large scale which is a very costly and time consuming affair.Unfortunately there is lot of ambiguity that what miracles an Aadhar number can do to the implementation of these schemes.UIDAI officials are also highlighting another aspect that creating bank accounts would become very easier and hasslefree with Aadhar numbers.This is a very good idea but does a BPL citizen really want to open a bank account?A honest answer to this question is "No".The Financial inclusion to be successful,more than issuing Aadhar number,in the first place we need to create more employment oppurtunities,education,financial awareness among the poor.
Despite the above deficiencies,UID number would be very crucial in the current situation to strongly suppress the menace of terrorism and to strengthen the national security.It is also very much reqired to identify poor and destitute who are leftout from the development and to align them with the growth path.There are many countries in the world which are having the concept of UIDs to citizens.Some of them are successful with them and some of them are not.It would be very much helpful for us if we study their experiences and use the knowledge here .
The so called reforming of citizen-govt interface, which is very critical ,is not thoroughly analysed.There is no proper plan of prioritising and implementing things.This is a matter of great concern and a thorough public debate is required to discuss the strategy and its pros and cons.A project of this scale ,if failed ,could be fatal to the future of our country.So be warned!!!
