India To Come Up With The Biggest’ ID Database In The World

India has started working on its national identity scheme, which could be the world’s largest national database, in order to minimize fraud and make state benefits accessible to all.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi led the launching of the ambitious system which is set to keep records of more than one billion Indians on an online database using biometric methods, such as an iris scan.

Officials claim that the poor, who are having difficulties accessing public services and benefits due to lack of official records, will be the ones to get the most out of the unique identification (UID) project.

Birth registration is not widely implemented in India. The government hopes that the database will provide the country a clearer “face” and expects that all Indian citizens will have their UID number by 2014.

For Prime Minister Singh, the program, which was launch in Tembhili village in Nandurbar, was a “special moment” that would help the country’s most marginalized people. For Mrs Gandhi, the launch was a “new beginning” for India.

The scheme, which will collect fingerprints, photographs, and other personal information, will allow every Indian to make transactions, such as passport application and bank account opening, using a 12-digit ID number. The government hopes that crimes such as fake welfare claims will be prevented, with the scheme’s introduction.

However, critics are worried about the costly project and the collection of citizens’ information. There are people doubting the project could actually improve India’s corrupt system. Others believe that the government should instead seek of services, and not access, improvement.