By bringing in service accessibility, the unique identification project will result in rural transformation, said Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Chairman, Nandan Nilekani on Thursday.
Speaking as the chief guest at the 31st annual convocation of the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), Nilekani said that a foundation was being built across the country that could enable a rural transformation in the next few years.
"The spread of mobile phones across the country, access of banking services by people across villages and the arrival of Aadhaar will create real possibilities for access. It will enable service providers across the country to link service delivery to remote authentication of identity, allowing benefits and services to be delivered directly to the person it is intended for," he said. The convocation also saw IRMA Chairman YK Alagh, Director of the Institute, Jeemol Unni, members of IRMA Board of Governors and the faculty members being present on the occasion.
Talking about the role Aadhaar will play in transforming the lives of people, Nilekani said it would become the first universal guarantee
of identity in India.
"Because the number is linked to the individual's biometric, it cannot be duplicated and will ensure uniqueness," he said in his speech to the 105 students, who were awarded the Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Management, and four students, who were conferred the title of Fellow in Rural Management.
On his part, Alagh, who completes his term as Chairman, IRMA in November, 2012. said "With the acceptance of an Academic Council, the institutional structure of IRMA is in a broad sense complete. IRMA went through a revisioning exercise for its future and the processes of implementation has begun."
Stressing that in the last three decades IRMA has created a strong brand, Unni said, "Brand IRMA, in order to be effective at the national level has to scale up. In a rapidly globalizing world, the vision of IRMA also necessarily has to be sensitive to an international scale and scope."
Emphasising on the future plans of IRMA, Unni said, "The plan includes significantly ramping up the campus facilities; offer diverse programmes and contribute to the professionalization of the management of state sponsored programmes oriented towards growth of rural areas."
IRMA was recently given a grant of Rs 25 crores from the Union Budget - 2012.