India To Issue Over a Billion Biometric ID Cards
angrytuna writes "The Unique Identification Authority is a new state department in India charged with assigning every living Indian an exclusive number and biometric ID card. The program is designed to alleviate problems with the 20 current types of proof of identity currently available. These problems range from difficulties for the very poor in obtaining state handouts, corruption, illegal immigration, and terrorism issues. Issuing the cards may be difficult, however, as less than 7% of the population is registered for income tax, and voter lists are thought to be inaccurate, partly due to corruption. The government has said the first cards will be issued in 18 months."
...I guess the insignificant problems of clean water and clean air, safe roads and reliable electricity can wait, as long as some idiotic solution to a non-extant problem can be pursued !
Sorry I can't be bothered to find the appropriate links to back me up, please see some of my previous posts on the miserable state of infrastructure in India.