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Unique Identification Authority chief Nandan Nilekani said on Saturday that mobile phones will be used for verifying the credentials of a person. The mobile numbers will now be used for authentication at the banks, for availing gas connection as well as while looking out for rural jobs.
"Our project will provide a unique identification (UID) number not a card. The authentication will be made by using mobile phones," Nilekani said.
"Once the numbers are issued, we will go for online authentication. Lets say, you are asking for a job under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). The authorities will send your number to the designated points through mobile. A message will be returned saying 'Yes' or 'No'," Nilekani said.
"This will verify whether you are the person you are claiming to be," the former Infosys managing director said, delivering the Foundation Day lecture of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
"This will not require many details to be divulged. It will help provide portability to our farmers, labourers. When they move from state to state, this UID will help them get employment without hassles."
He mentioned that all the organizations, which require the verifying of the details of the users, now, can opt for the UID of the customers. With the growing mobile phone network, this will become an easy process for authorities to verify people."
"It will cut down the fake or duplicate records. This will enhance the efficiency of flagship programmes like NREGS (National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme), NRHM (National Rural Health Mission) and other such projects," Nilekani stressed.
He mentioned that the first batch of UID will be made available in another 12 to 15 months. "In five years from now, we will issue at least 600 million UIDs," Nilekani said.
