Back home,the UIDAI project is facing flak over security as well as collection of its data. However,the Nandan Nilekani-led initiative to give each of the 1.2 billion Indians a unique identity number has others interested,from the US to tiny Papua New Guinea. While the Americans are intrigued by the biometric compilation of data,Papua New Guinea that has one of the most heterogenous populations in the world feels the Unique Identification Authority of India project is the best model to give each of its 61 lakh people an identity proof. PNG Prime Minister Peter ONeill wants its citizens to have UID-inspired cards by its general elections in June 2012 which could be even before the Aadhar project has covered all Indians. ONeill had first proposed a UID-like scheme for PNG three years ago,when he was treasury minister,after visiting Bangalore. However,the cabinet hadnt approved then. Having taken over as prime minister recently,he sent a request in September seeking Indian help. ONeill has conveyed to the Indian High Commissioner that he had studied the identity cards being issued in Hong Kong and the UK but zeroed in on the UIDAI. According to him,the cards issued could be used for electoral purposes as also for devolution of subsidies and social welfare grants,verification of passports etc. Diverse like India with its tiny population speaking at least 820 indigenous languages,PNG houses hundreds of ethnic groups. Most of its population depends on subsistence-based agriculture. Confirming that the Ministry of External Affairs had contacted them over the PNG request,UIDAI Director General and Mission Director R S Sharma said several other countries,including China,Indonesia and the US,have shown interest in the project. Besides,Australia sent two delegations seeking to understand UIDAIs enrollment process and the inclusion of foreigners or immigrants,a French team has sought to know about the security of the identification project,while Vietnam,Indonesia and Columbia have also sent teams to understand the process. A query from The Indian Express to the US Embassy regarding their interest in the UIDAI project received no reply. UIDAI Director General Sharma said the whole worlds eyes were upon them. They are watching us closely as we implement the worlds largest identity project for 1.2 billion Indians. We have managed to perform and overcome all challenges. People said our software would crash,it didnt. According to him,at a recent ID WORLD Conference,Joseph Atick,the Executive VP of L-1 Identity Solutions,said that while biometric data first came into use post-9/11,Aadhar showed its use for development. We have redefined the biometric world. We have inspired others and PNG is an example, Sharma said.
