Sinha seeks clarification on Nilekani’s statement

NEW DELHI: Unique Identification Authority of India (UIAI) chairman Nandan Nilekani���s statement that a unique identification number would be issued to all residents of India, and not the ���citizens of India��� as asserted earlier by Union home minister P Chidambaram, created ripples in the Lok Sabha on Friday with BJP demanding a clarification from the government on the targeted coverage of the ambitious scheme.

Raising the issue during zero hour in the Lok Sabha, former Union minister Yashwant Sinha said there has been ���deviation��� in statements by Mr Chidambaram and Mr Nilekani over who will get the card. While the home minister has said that the card is for Indian citizens only, Mr Nilekani on Thursday was quoted as saying that the unique number would be allocated to all Indian residents, including non-citizens.

Seeking an end to the ambiguity, Mr Sinha ��� who, incidentally, hailed the appointment of the Infosys boss as head of the UIAI ��� asked the government to make a statement clarifying the scope of coverage of the UPA���s flagship scheme.

Speaking to newspersons soon after taking over as UIAI chairman here on Thursday, Mr Nilekani had stated that the first set of unique identification numbers would be issued within 12-18 months.

However, when asked specifically how the authority would issue identification numbers in states like Assam, Tripura and West Bengal where large number of Bangladeshi migrants live, he said the project was for residents. ���The charter of this (project) is to create an online database of residents of the country,��� he said.

Mr Nilekani further clarified that UIAI is not going to issue cards and it will only create a database of residents��� identity. ���We will have a very simple database which provides biometric and demographic identity details like name, number, date of birth.....very basic things,��� he said.

The unique numbers, according to Mr Nilekani, would not only provide an identity to citizens but will also help them in obtaining benefits of government schemes and also undertake with ease other activities like opening bank accounts and availing electricity connection.

The government had appointed Mr Nilekani as UIAI chairman last month and allocated Rs 120 crore for the ambitious project in the current fiscal.