Nilekani vows to roll out identification numbers in 12 months  

The first set of unique identification numbers will be issued to the citizens within 12-18 months, high-profile information technology (IT) expert Nandan Nilekani said soon after taking over as the head of the newly-created Unique Identification Authority of India (UNI), reports PTI.

 

"In the next 12 to 18 months, we will be issuing the first set of unique identification numbers", he told reporters at his new office at Yojana Bhawan in New Delhi.

 

These numbers, he added, will not only provide an identity to citizens and will also help them obtain benefits of the government schemes and also undertake with ease other activities like opening bank accounts and availing electricity connection.

 

"It is difficult to open a bank account... it is difficult to get an electricity connection. We hope if we can give everyone an identity, basically the number, and that number is authenticated throughout the country...he can use is wherever he goes", Nilekani.

 

The IT veteran further said that he would set up a team, picking up best available talent from government as well as private sector, to prepare the database for every resident.

 

The government had earlier appointed Nilekani the chairman of the authority with a cabinet rank and allocated Rs1.2 billion for the ambitious project in the current fiscal.