UID - not really unique!!!

THE BIG CHALLENGE

I was reading about the Unique Identification Number Project led by ex-Infy CEO Nandan Nilekani. Initially I felt skeptical about it's success. I wondered whether census would be carried out within a year to get the exact head-count. With the already present identification schemes like voter-id, passport, PAN card, what unique purpose will the UID serve? How will it be possible to assign a UID to every single Indian?

THE PROMISE

Despite so many challenges, UID project head Nandan Nilekani has promised that, the first batch of the UIDs will roll out within 12-18 months. Given his extraordinary corporate background, one could trust this words unlike that of our politicians who are known for their false promises.

WHY UID?

No doubt, if the project accomplished successfully will obviate the people to carry multiple documents and id-proofs like ration cards, credit cards etc. It seems logical to have one common ID proof. A person holding a ration-card won't have a credit card. One with credit card doesn't have a voter's id. I recently got my voter's id and always used a PAN card as my ID. Don't you think there should be one uniform system to maintain the identity of the citizens?

TWIST IN THE TALE

Now, Mr. Nilekani, says - UID is optional!!! It isn't a proof of citizenship.

Phew!!! why then should one carry out such a project? PAN cards, passports, voter's id are already serving the purpose what UID project has promised to achieve. With the other forms of ID proofs too, one doesn't need to carry multiple documents. People with PAN cards or any other ID are anyway not questioned to show other documents. Why should one add more confusion by introducing something which is again optional??

Help me!!!

I am short of recipes these days. I have tried almost every possible Indian recipe. My dear reader, please pour your ideas. Well, it should be a strictly vegetarian recipe, containing no eggs too. I hope you come out with some wonderful and challenging recipes.

Bees saal baad

We are so hooked to facebook, orkut, twitter etc that, we spend at least 30 minutes in a day on social-networking :). But will we be doing this 20 years down the lane at the same rate as we are doing now? Or will anything else overtake social-networking websites? With the increase in the number of such sites, I sometimes question myself - "Where will people have time to follow each one of them religiously?". I was myself a big fan of orkut in my college life. But, it gradually faded out now. Though I frequently log into facebook and rarely into twitter, I still ask myself whether I will be using all these accounts a few years from now. Like my husband says - Don't use any of them... You will be leading a hassle-free life. Is it true? Sometimes yes may be. For instance, you happen to miss out wishing some close friend of yours on his/her birthday, wedding anniversary etc. You may be too busy to reply to their scraps, or wall-posts. Or vice versa. It strains the relationship more than what it is intended to do! With day-to-day lives becoming more hectic, will we really have time to continue surfing the social-networking sites? No doubt, thanks to social-networking sites which have brought separated friends, acquaintances etc together and also helped making new friends. But will it help maintain the relationship 20 years from now? Only time should answer :P