“Aadhaar is an initiative, which will give a unique identity to residents, especially the marginalised, so that they can benefit from an array of social welfare schemes designed for them. This remains our prime focus area as we embark on the second phase of enrolments, which will cover 40 crore more residents,” says RS Sharma, Director General & Mission Director, UIDAI
RS Sharma, Director General & Mission Director, UIDA I
After achieving the 20-crore-enrolments target for the first phase much before the deadline, the UIDAI plans to achieve its present target of 40-crore- enrolments, by the next 18 months. The first phase was a fantastic learning experience for us. Based on this experience, we have formulated a ‘refresh- strategy’, which aims at making the entire process, from enrolment till delivery of Aadhaar letter, more stringent and quality-oriented. We have managed to iron out all the inconsistencies in order to ensure that the second phase is managed better. This gives us confidence that the residents will not find a reason to complain.
The Refresh Strategy
According to the refresh strategy of the UIDAI, the Authority would now perform quality checks at every stage, from enrolments to the delivery of Aadhaar letter to resident. Dataentry errors at the time of enrolments shall be reduced to nil, with the help of technological and administrative checks. Also on cards are heavy penalties, for enrolment agencies who digress from the laid-out and approved process.
Other highlights of this strategy are continuation of enrolments through the multiregistrars model, sweep approach to cover maximum number of residents of district/state, and stringent review of master data for pin code validation. In a bid to improve the overall experience of a resident, the UIDAI plans to promote online appointments for enrolments in the second phase, apart from setting up permanent enrolment stations at district/taluka level in States/Union Territories that have covered majority of their population.
The key rationale for Aadhaar is to provide a real-time online verifiable identity to the residents of India, in a bid to create transparent service/ benefit delivery architecture in the country.
A major highlight of the second phase shall be the Aadhaar-enabled service delivery, as part of which eligible residents shall be able to access services and benefits with the help of their Aadhaar identity. UIDAI technology shall offer authentication of your identity even through a mobile phone. Within seconds you shall be able to establish that you are, who you claim to be, you are.
Positive impacts of technology
Technology has positively affected the Indian society. Like the case of Internet Banking and online railway reservation, which, in terms of utility, have got a thumbs-up from the masses. Likewise, would the resident not be happy if their identity is authenticated remotely, without residents fearing for its theft? Aadhaar simply aims at development of the country and this driving force shall be seen more assertively in the second phase of enrolments.
We have initiated pilot studies in various parts of the country to test how Aadhaar can be used as a platform of providing benefits to residents who are entitled to it. Some of the schemes being administered using Aadhaar as an enabler are: MNREGS payments, LPG distribution, monthly ration through PDS including kerosene.
The UIDAI is leaving nothing to chance and aims at setting a global benchmark for identities’ database management. Considering its past record and the access to technology it has, the Authority promises better results as it steps into the second phase of enrolments in the country.
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