India launches ambitious national identity scheme
BBC news
The government says better ID will mean benefits are delivered more fairly India has launched a huge national identity scheme aimed at cutting fraud and improving access to state benefits.
Using biometric methods, including an iris scan, the system will log details of India's population of more than one billion people on a central database.
It was launched by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi in western India.
The biometric evidence will be stored online in what will be the biggest such national database in the world.
The unique identification (UID) programme will help those in poor, marginalised communities who find it difficult to access public services and benefits because they do not have official records, officials say.
The government expects to give a UID number to every Indian citizen within five years.
Birth registration is not universal and it is hoped that the database will give an accurate picture of Indian society, correspondents say.
Then the gov't would have to spend a lot of money to support or implement this program which they should have rather give it to the poor people. There is always fraud no matter what but if their goal is to feed people then why not fix the real problem here.
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