In what will be a coup for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is considering getting Nandan Nilekani, co-chairman, Infosys Technologies Ltd, India?s second largest software company, into his team. Though he will not be given the charge of a particular department or a ministry, he will be offered a Cabinet minister?s rank.
According to highly placed sources, Nilekani is seen as best suited to nurture the ambitious project of providing every Indian a unique identity card. The Congress manifesto for the 2009 general elections had said such a project is possible once the national population register is published in 2011. Besides addressing security issues, the UID project will overhaul the delivery mechanism in the country and ensure that public goods and services are delivered to intended beneficiaries.
Earlier, Nilekani?s candidature was discussed for the position of a member with the rank of a minister of state in the Planning Commission.
But given the scale and magnitude of the Unique ID project, it is now being seen within the UPA that a professional of Nilekani?s stature and caliber can only it through. When contacted, Nilekani said he did want to comment on this issue. ?I do not want to get into this,? he told The Indian Express. But sources said Nilekani did discuss the project, and his eagerness to complete it given an opportunity. ?He does not desire to be a minister and handle departments or ministries, but is open to implementing a national project of such magnitude and importance in a time-bound manner,? a friend of Nilekani, who did not wish to be quoted said.
A Cabinet minister?s rank is seen as necessary to ensure Nilekani gets the necessary independence and authority to implement the project, especially since it will require immense coordination with home, labour, rural development and information technology ministries as well as the Planning Commission. The UPA government had on January 28 notified the Unique Identification Authority of India under the Planning Commission and provided Rs 100 crore in the interim Budget to kickstart implementation of the project. The governance structure of the authority may be so modified to enable Nilekani take over its reins with a Cabinet minister?s rank. Once implemented, the UIP project will eliminate the need for multiple identification mechanism and not only address security issues but also help effectively target social benefit and employment programmes. The permanent ID card given to citizens under this project will carry a unique number, photograph and biometric data. To begin with, it will be assigned to all voters by building on current electoral roll data and persons under 18 years too be added to the list.