Not Just the UID

I have seen people getting excited when they get a good quality database of fifty CEOs or hundred school principals, or 2,000 hospitals

. One can sell them credit cards, houses, cars, software, and every other thing possible. Just imagine what you can get with a very accurate database of 1.1 bn people with their names, addresses, religion, sex, and so on. The Unique ID project could transform the fortunes of the Indian ICT industry. I believe that imagination will be the only limitation.

If and when the UID project is successfully completed, a lot of dreams could actually begin to become a reality. Slogans and terminologies that have never really been very successful, but we have been hearing for years bridging the divide between the haves and have nots; bridging the digital divide; sustainable growth; justice for all; education for all; food for all; right to information could possibly become a reality.

UID is great, but it will have to be backed with several other initiatives. The whole range of e-governance projects that will possibly connect the citizen to the world (including businesses, education, banking, and health-care), thanks to the UID number, will need to be off the ground as quickly as possible. As of now there are twenty-seven large scale mission mode e-gov projects in the pipeline, only four in operation. These projects have faced various types of hurdles, including technology confusion, project driver scarcity, failure of PPP models, too much government control, procurement systems, to name a few.

Over $5 bn will be spent on these projects, according to experts. But these projects will have to take off quickly; otherwise the UID that Nilekani is creating will just be an un-utilized database. And, we all know how quickly databases become old and outdated.

So far the Indian IT industry (which was primarily exports based) and IT deployment in the domestic market have run on auto mode without much government intervention, either positive or negative. But now is the time for the government to really step. It is said that per capita IT investment in India is about $1, compared to $150 in the UK, for instance. The Government of India has to ensure that a conducive environment is created for higher and faster IT deployment that touches the lives of all the people who will be on the UID database.

One must, however, not forget that UID is just an IT tool that will deliver on the slogans and promises of the country's leaders and governments. Ultimately, we will require enough food to be produced for having food for all; we will need a lot more doctors and hospitals; and we will need a lot more electricity or other alternate forms of energy to power computers, networks, and other consumer devices. The government will have to focus big time on building the country's infrastructure, if UID has to be leveraged.

Not Just the UID

By: VK Singh

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