FM: Will provide all funds for UID

The finance ministry today said it is committed to speedy implementation of the Unique Identification Number (UID) Project and would provide the necessary funds for it.

The Ministry of Finance is fully committed to expeditious implementation of the UID Project and all funds required for the smooth roll out of the project by UID Authority will be provided, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in a statement. Dismissing media reports pertaining to slashing of budgetary allocation to UID project,though the ministry said,This is not the correct position,it did not specify the exact amount of money to be provided for the project.

There were media reports that the government has decided to slash the budget by more than half.

The UID authority in another statement clarified that in Phase I,it was provided funds for establishing the authority and for conducting proof of concept studies. In the second phase,funds would be needed to start the pilot studies and rolling out 10 crore UID numbers by March 2011.