With over 510 million Aadhar cards issued till December 2013, this ambitious UIDAI project could be termed as a huge success, and credit for its success has to go to Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys head who had left the corporate world and took over as the chief of UIDAI 4 years back.
But now, according to a ET report, Nandan Nilekani seems to have resigned from his position. “I am resigning as of today, the government will decide who will hold the position next” said Nandan in an email reply to ET.
While his resignation was expected over next few months, given that he has been named as the Congress candidate from South Bangalore, it will come as quite a surprise because his successor as UIDAI chief has not be named (probably not even identified). Nandan had previously announced that he will resign as UIDAI chief when Aadhar card numbers will reach 600 million. That number was reached on March 9th!
UIDAI has been Indian Government’s biggest and most ambitious project since they came in power 10 years back. The project is only half-way, but it promises to bring clean and transparent governance.
With elections only a month away, and signs that BJP may come into power; It puts huge question mark over the future of UIDAI project. BJP has already mentioned that they will be scrapping this project entirely if it comes to power.
UIDAI project has got mixed feedback across the country. While some are opinion that Aadhar can never be successful, other opine that it has power eradicate corruption to a large extent from Government offices.
One thing is for sure, if Aadhar has to be successful (and if the project does get not scrapped), it needs a man that has experience and background akin to Nandan Nilekani. Anyone else and it will be doomed, if not already!
What do you think?
He is being helped by Congress to get away without accountability for his failure as UIDAI chairman and now the blame for Aadhar tragedy and losses of more than Rs.10,000 crore will be put on someone else’s head.