Imagine no poll-related violence and booth capturing being reported from Bihar, or for that matter, any other part of India. The voters just go to a nearby information kiosk, log on to the election commission’s Web site, punch in their citizen number, swipe their ID cards and vote. Of course, their identity is also determined by the biometrics scanners that these outlets have

Forget those nasty scenes and long queues for kerosene or sugar in front of a public distribution system (PDS) outlet as the government decides to do away with the subsidy regime. Instead, those below the poverty line (BPL) can now make purchases through the open market with the same subsidy being made available to them in cash through a monthly stipend. What’s more, the beneficiaries just need to walk into an ATM center, swipe their ID cards, key in their citizen numbers, put hands on the biometrics scanner to confirm their idendity and walk out with the dole.

The touts at the passport office have been put on the endangered species list as a person can use the information kiosk to log on to the Web site of the regional passport office and send online application. The passport office issues the passport in less than a week’s time as it is able to verify the person’s antecedents by simply capturing information from the ID card and cross checking with the national database. What’s more, as the verification is based on both biometrics and the unique citizen number, the department does not make a mistake such as issuing multiple passports to the same person.

If these are not enough motivation to make you all agog to be part of the citizen database and get your unique citizen number, think about the number of times you have faced an embarrassing situation just to prove that you are who you claim to be. All this despite carrying several documents that may simply not have been attested. According to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), on an average, Indian adults waste one day per person, every year in just proving their identities. Multiply this with the minimum wage of Rs 60 and one can very well calculate the huge productivity loss for the country—Rs 4,000 crore per annum, as per a very conservative TCS estimate. Interestingly, one would agree that most of the individuals who actually have to struggle in providing proof of their identity earn much more than the minimum wage.

Be it applying for a driving license, telephone connectivity or LPG, getting an insurance policy or just opening an account in the bank, one’s identity is always an issue of suspicion. Not to forget the fact that despite showing proof of residence and other such required documents, there still remains a need for someone who can introduce you to the bank. What if all this is taken care of by simply flashing a citizen ID card and through the verification process as mentioned above. Sounds interesting?

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