Infosys will bid for Nilekani-run projects, says Gopalakrishnan

Infosys Technologies said it would bid for projects under the ambitious identification card project being undertaken by the union government. The Unique Identification Database Authority of India is being set up to implement the project under the chairmanship of former Infosys co-chairman Nandan M Nilekani.

"We do bid for e-governance projects and continue to bid. We will bid for this project too," Infosys chief executive and managing director S Gopalakrishnan said in Bangalore on Friday.

"We have done a couple of e-governance projects, including one for the income tax department. We have three such ongoing projects. We will bid for many," he added.

Ruling out conflict of interest as Nilekani heads the identification card project with cabinet rank, Gopalakrishnan said the company and its former co-chairman would make sure everything was handled with the highest level of integrity and transparency. "I am sure Nilekani will ensure the (bidding) process is transparent," Gopalakrishnan said on the margins of a Confederation of Indian Industry southern region conference.

"We don't have any cost estimate of the project. It is a humungous project. We know that it is a project, which when implemented, will help make many of the government programmes much better," Gopalakrishnan said. "It will make sure government grants reach the right people. It will also make sure the security of the country is in safe hands."
 
The project, to be implemented by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) as an entity of the Planning Commission, will create unique identification cards to all citizens by 2011.

Initially, the cards will be assigned to all voters by building on current electoral roll data. The novel smart card will eliminate the need for multiple identifications such as an electoral card, ration card, driving license and PAN (permanent account number) card.

Elated over Nilekani's new role, Gopalakrishnan said the company and its employees were glad that its co-chairman was given the opportunity to take up such an onerous responsibility.