Ask Nandan Nilekani

Don't you think that India's National ID card scheme may eventually get bogged down or diluted to accomodate millions of illegal immigrants who have somehow crossed into India ? Are you not apprehensive about the lack of political will in this regard due to petty party interests? Do you disagree with me if I raise such doubts or will you look upon my contention as mere sceptical approach?

Mr. Nilekeni,

Congratulations on assuming such a leadership role of national importance. In trying to understand the rationale of the scheme, I was wondering what is the return on investment of such a project. Is there a plan to monetize the benefits from the stakeholders who benefit, both public and private?

Thanks,
Amit

I felt really glad when I heard that you would be soon taking over the key post. Congrats.

With respect to the initiative, What do you think are the critical success factor ? Will it be India's social security code? How are you ensuring that there is complete transparency in the overall process starting from distribution of the budget till the end goal ? Managing a govt initiative is quite different from managing a corporate, How are you leveraging your experience and advising others in govt body in execution their individual task ?

Personally, I have seen the way election card were distributed to citizen. The quality of the card and the overall process can definately be better.

Wishing you a good success

Dear Mr. Nilekani,
You have often talked about India's huge population as a boon rather than a bane. I would like to know how much this "advantage" can truly be leveraged or reaped in order to transform India into a modern superpower that every other country can look up to. And how long do you think it will take?
Regards,
Kantesh

Dear Mr. Nilekani,
You have inspired a generation of young and old the world over. You have given numerous interviews and also written a bestselling book. Which part of your story do you think is waiting to be heard (as yet untold) still?

Would love to hear it.
Regards,
Kantesh

Dear Mr. Nilekani

Having being exposed albeit briefly to the challenging world of Indian politics, do you think an intellectual like you can survive in it for a longer term?
Does it get frustating at times for someone like you who has been infosysied by a culture of generating pathbreaking ideas and quick execution of well laid out plans?
What advice can you give to any professional who harbours an interest of contributing to the Indian democracy but is afraid to get bogged down by the politics involved?

Dear Mr. Nilekani

I was hoping that you pen down all your experiences about the journey you are currently undertaking. Am sure that the project would eventually be successful and a book about this journey would open up a new avenue for the corporate class to pursue new challenges. We need a new mid-way and lets call it 'Corporate-Social' that allows one to contribute to the country w/o having to sacrifice benefits of a healthy reward based pay system.

wishing you all the luck

Raj

In lighter vein- will these numbers be up for sale like auto registration numbers!!!

Hello Mr. Nilekani,

Congratulations to you on what you have achieved so far and all the best for your new job.I have two questions:

1) How can you ensure that a X person in Y remote village in Z state who is working for state government will be identified in the National ID project?

2) How can you prevent the corruption and normal chalta hai attitude of the bureaucracy working on this project?

Thanks for answers.

Regards,
Chandrasekhar

Inspite of all the expertise Infosys has had, one real threat which seems is Infosys has all its eggs primarily as being a software based service and consultancy provider akin to being sort of a utility company. Does Infosys think of bridging "THE GAP"??

Also, in a country where there are so few companies as Infosys, are there plans by Infosys to hatch companies based upon the same work culture that focus on other connected sectors like power management, solar cells, mobile & web-based applications??

Of what relevance is the National ID Card in India. Would that solve the problem of poverty in Indian Slums?

Thank you for taking questions online

My questions are:

How will privacy of the information collected on the ID holder be respected? What mechanism/directorate will handle potential identity theft?

Idea: Can ID holders request additional information to be encoded to the card for a fee, for example, medical conditions and drug allergies for one? This can then be read at health entry points (assuming the site supports this function) in an emergency.

Will Persons of Indian Origin be eligible for this ID card?

Wishing you success,

Gobind Mukund

Dear Mr Nilekani

We have read so much about the demographic dividend as also the wonderful promises the ID project will deliver. Just curious, and perhaps also interested being physically challenged myself, will it make life easier for people like me in a country which pays scant attention to the needs of the disabled especially the polio survivors who have to grapple with so many problems including the dreaded PPS? Thanks.

With enormous and gigantic population how would you capsized it by using technology. And does your technology easily available in developing country with such amount of population?. Thank You and have a great day.

In your book 'Imagining India', you seem to have taken a pro-Congress stance. So, while Gujarat finds no mention among India's economically advanced states, you did remember to mention the post-Godhra riots in the book, and you referred to devotees of Ram as thugs. Did you end up as head of the ID program by playing poodle to the ruling political party in India? Ignorance is one thing and prejudice is another, but Mr Nilekani, motivated bias is worse.

Are you a Hindu-hating, leftwing secularist who tends to be aligned to India's current ruling party? Is that why you were offered the position of Chairman - Natl UID?

This article (http://www.dailypioneer.com/200734/Imagining-India-the-‘secular'-way.html) seems to suggest so.

It is unfortunate to see Mr Nilekani do a hatchet job on BJP and suck up to Congress reigning diety's family in his ill-advised book.

Hi Nandan-

The offices / campuses of the IT majors in India are state of the art affairs but once you step out you witness how the infrastructure in India, well at least in the metros is seriously in need of an upgrade. Does it make sense for corporates like Infosys to take over and contribute towards developing the infrastructure in places where their campuses exist, if for nothing else, to make life easier for their own employees in an area where the government has failed so so miserably.
When is India truly going to 'shine' ?

George

Have you thought about being the PM/ FM of the country ? Is there a possibility?
Kris

What do you believe is India's role on the global stage?

Mr. Nilekani,

I am very happy that "you" are heading the implementation of India's National ID Card Project.
I know that it's a huge implementation, which when finished will be the backbone for personnel identity management and security of the nation on the whole.

This will greatly benefit the nation in the long run. If done right it can actually curb illegal aliens getting the rights of the common citizens, provide security to the nation, cut the corruption from the grassroots (Ideally, can't we just separate the justice system and the government implementers, ex: every traffic violation can actually be a remark/points on a drivers license associated with the NID, like it happens here in US, which has to be paid in a traffic court, so we can't bribe the police etc.)

My questions are:

1. How are you planning to prevent ruling government's (whoever it may be) intervention to modify records? Will this be a separate department not directly a part of Govt affairs?
2. Will this NID be associated with Driver's License, Credit Management, Passport etc. like it happens in USA?
3. Just assuming the complexity, there will be a number of discrepancies and mistakes? How will they be addressed?
4. Also, there has to be an airtight way of getting the NID's to the people securely. We don't trust the Indian Postal Service of delivering these to the people. Is there an alternative approach that would be viable?

I have too many questions to list or even think out loud......
I would love to read about the details(design and the technical details) of such a huge implementation. I truly wish that this will be a great success and that we will be able read about it one day as a Case Study on the biggest project-with micro and macro detailed- implementation.

Jai Hind
Kalyan

Hi, I am Mahi and presently preparing for my HARVARD Economics degree 2010. My interests are Indian Economics and Indian Public Policy. I am interested in contacting you at your office (i.e Official Address ) for an appointment to meet and talk, but I don't see any Official Address or Email ID to contact you at your office or means of help. Please help me to get in touch with you. Please post me your Official Mailing Address or Email Id that you use. I am an Indian settled in USA and would like to work on Indian Public Policy. How do you encourage Indians to take part in rebuilding India as a Great Democracy.? Most of the young middle class India move away from Politics.? Politics has never been a common place for a common man and in legislative process except for the RICH and Well Connected, How can this me improved. With a true Heart for Indian Democracy

Thank you
Mahi
mahi.dasika@gmail.com

Dear Sir,

It is true India has become a “tiger” economy recently, but that development has mostly taken place in the last 15 years or so. Does that mean that we have essentially underperformed for the majority of the last 60yrs or so of our independence? While all and sundry are celebrating, do you feel that we have not developed to our full potential and even now we wasting resources in political bickering. If yes then what is your solution to put our development on hyperdrive?
Thank You.

Mr Nielkeni , how would you address the issue of illegal immigrants in border states while issuing ID cards ? Why do you think previous attempts to do the same by Mr Seshan failed and how do you hope to overcome the challenges that he faced?

Regds

Nandan,
Will the unique ID (UID) substitute the present income tax "permanent account number" (PAN), Driver's License number. and other IDs? If so, when? Which government authorities support convergence to a UID?
Ramesh

Dear sir,

I am glad to know that you will be spearheading the UID project for India. I wanted to know the following:
1) Is something medieval like cast religion sub cast still going to dominate India and citizens still tagged with religion and region?

2) The ID project data will be manipulated by politicians and big corporations for known selfish reasons?

3) How is one supposed to maintain data privacy on ID?

Using biometric systems will always help.

I will be privileged to participate as a volunteer to this project.

Thank you,
Pranav.