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India’s identity scheme: The magic number

economist.com

1–10 of 31 posts

Re: India’s identity scheme: The magic number

#2
I really want this to work, but I'm skeptical. I've lived in India, and I know that corruption is rampant. These "middle men" will try hard to figure out another way to game this system. Hopefully it's the start of something, but I think the economist is being a bit too optimistic in claiming that this alone will transform India.

Re: India’s identity scheme: The magic number

#3
I really dislike the economist. To me the very first thing this program makes me think of is how the government will abuse it. They briefly mention that there is the possibility that some sort of privacy issue might pop up in the future, but quickly dismiss the argument as outweighed by the ends these means achieve. They even get a swipe in at 'market distorting subsidies' while their at it.

While other magazines might have bias the Economist takes it to a whole new level. I would call every piece of 'reporting' they do an editorial.

That said the article did prompt me to learn more. Top Google results which paint a slightly different picture.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unique_Identification_Authority...

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/india/indias-unique-id-project-all...

Re: India’s identity scheme: The magic number

#4
post #2

I really want this to work, but I'm skeptical. I've lived in India, and I know that corruption is rampant. These "middle men" will try hard to figure out another way to game this system. Hopefully it's the start of something, but I think the economist is being a bit too optimistic in claiming that this alone will transform India.

Forcing the middlemen to come up with new ways of cheating the system would be a huge step-up from the status quo. Presently they don't even need to think!

Re: India’s identity scheme: The magic number

#5
post #2

I really want this to work, but I'm skeptical. I've lived in India, and I know that corruption is rampant. These "middle men" will try hard to figure out another way to game this system. Hopefully it's the start of something, but I think the economist is being a bit too optimistic in claiming that this alone will transform India.

are these middle men serving as a buffer between large parts of the population and the government? i see both positives and negatives to such a relationship... one that has evolved over a long period of time.

Re: India’s identity scheme: The magic number

#6
There is tons to do even if the UID is successfully rolled out through out the country. First and foremost would be to get all government services to willingly accept the UID as the standard scheme ... I know that sounds ironic but such is the life in India ...

Re: India’s identity scheme: The magic number

#7
post #5
post #2

I really want this to work, but I'm skeptical. I've lived in India, and I know that corruption is rampant. These "middle men" will try hard to figure out another way to game this system. Hopefully it's the start of something, but I think the economist is being a bit too optimistic in claiming that this alone will transform India.

are these middle men serving as a buffer between large parts of the population and the government? i see both positives and negatives to such a relationship... one that has evolved over a long period of time.

In a way, yes. It is an evolved relationship. Middlemen started out as traders who acted as the exchange mechanism, for example between farmer bodies and the consumers. Over time they have grown in strength and sadly in autonomy. Middlemen bodies exert huge influence over retail prices of goods in India.

Re: India’s identity scheme: The magic number

#8
post #4
post #2

I really want this to work, but I'm skeptical. I've lived in India, and I know that corruption is rampant. These "middle men" will try hard to figure out another way to game this system. Hopefully it's the start of something, but I think the economist is being a bit too optimistic in claiming that this alone will transform India.

Forcing the middlemen to come up with new ways of cheating the system would be a huge step-up from the status quo. Presently they don't even need to think!

Haha, yes, I absolutely agree.

Re: India’s identity scheme: The magic number

#9
post #2

I really want this to work, but I'm skeptical. I've lived in India, and I know that corruption is rampant. These "middle men" will try hard to figure out another way to game this system. Hopefully it's the start of something, but I think the economist is being a bit too optimistic in claiming that this alone will transform India.

Things are changing and schemes like UID combined with Food security bill, direct money transfer to banks etc would bring a huge change in the social fabric. UID will serve as a basis for all future social programmes.

Re: India’s identity scheme: The magic number

#10
post #6

There is tons to do even if the UID is successfully rolled out through out the country. First and foremost would be to get all government services to willingly accept the UID as the standard scheme ... I know that sounds ironic but such is the life in India ...

Can't agree more... Getting all the govt. bodies to start using UID could well take 5 years....
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