Nilekani: UID Will Confirm Who You Are

WSJ: So this number answers the question: Who am I?
Mr. Nilekani: Yes. Or if you are X, we will confirm to you that you are indeed, X. The verification of identity will become streamlined. However, there is still the enrollment issue, which is, that when the person first comes into the system we will have to do some degree of verification. After that, people can use our data base and verify themselves over and over again, that is the beauty of the model. You need to enroll only once, but you can verify a person anywhere, anytime.
We also realized that this unique number also ties into the whole notion of inclusive growth that is the underlying theme of the UPA government, that everybody must participate in the country's growth -- which means they must have access to public services. But if you can't get a ration card because you can't prove who you are, then you can't get your rice or wheat at discounted government shops. So we have to make sure that the poor participate. The whole agenda is focused on being pro-poor and inclusive.