AP to be the flagship State in the Country for the Unique Identification Numbers: Nandan Nilekani

Mr.Nandan Nilekani, Chairman, UIDAI calling on Sri K. Rosaiah, Chief Minister at Secretariat
on 21-10-09

Hyderabad|India|October'2009: Andhra Pradesh will be the flagship State in the Country for the Unique Identification Numbers which are under process now, Mr Nandan Nilekani, Chairman, Unique Identification Authority of India said. Mr Nandan Nilekani today met the Chief Minister K Rosaiah at Secretariat and discussed about the UID scheme floated in the country.

Mr Nilekani had detailed discussion with top officials of the State and said Andhra Pradesh will be a role model State since the State had already did lot of work in this field. He said first UID numbers will be issued in 12 to 18 months time. Mr Nilekani said a Regional Office of the UIDAI will be opened in Hyderabad.

The Chief Minister assured all assistance to the UIDAI from the State Government. He said IRIS of about 2 crores people in the State have been done in the State. He said lot of information technology and online processing are being used in the transparent implementation of the NREG Programme in Andhra Pradesh. He said even in the payment of social security pensions an online system assures flawless delivery of the payment to the beneficiaries. Hence he said Andhra Pradesh is best suited to launch the scheme.

Mr Nilekani described the task of UID numbers to all the citizens in the country as “gigantic and stupendous”. He said Andhra Pradesh has done excellent work in this field and said he would also look into the online processing of Aarogyasri scheme. He said the efforts and success of A.P. experiment would be blended into the UIDAI approach. He said A.P. is the place to make it happen.

Mr Nilekani sought all assistance from the State in this regard. The Chief Minister said Andhra Pradesh has the habit of being Number One in these matters. Mr Nileakani said that the UID numbers once issued can be used for PDS, Social Security pensions, and all other schemes. He hoped that within 3 years India will have UID numbers for its citizens and will be in the forefront in the world as far as social security cards are concerned.

Chief Secretary P Ramakanth Reddy, Special Chief Secretary, Planning, A.K.Goyal, Principal Secretaries to CM, CVSK Sharma and K Raju, Commissioner, I&PR, C Parthasarathy and other officials attended the meeting.