UIDs will help in getting LPG, phone connections: Nilekani

Mumbai: The Unique Identification Authority (UIDAI) has begun two-pilot projects that would allow public sector oil marketers to make LPG transfers as well as getting mobile connectivity easier and transparent for consumers, its chairman Nandan Nilekani said on Thursday.

"We are running a pilot programme in Mysore using the Aadhar platform for giving LPG connections. One could get an LPG connection through the use of an Aadhar number. Similarly, in Hyderabad, this platform will be used in a pilot project to verify customer's identity for getting a mobile phone connection," he said.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the final day of the three-day Nasscom leadership summit here, Nilekani said UIDAI applications will benefit the common man and will improve public governance.

Nandan Nilekani said UIDAI applications will benefit the common man and will improve public governance.

"The UIDAI has successfully completed its mandate of rolling out Aadhar to 200 million. We have been mandated by the Cabinet to roll out Aadhar cards for another 400 million. By 2014, we would have enrolled 600 million," he said.

The UIDAI is also running a pilot programme with the Union Rural Development ministry for the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. It is also working on a pension scheme in Jharkhand, as well as another pilot for opening bank accounts in Tumkur in Karnataka, he said.

"The important thing is that apart from enrolments, which will continue as planned, the big shift that you are seeing now is the move towards applications so that this can become useful to the common man," he said.

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