Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Nilekani, a politically savvy and cautiously media-friendly technocrat, says he was look-
ing for a public role where he could make a difference with his technology knowledge
challenge and simple definition of success - to build the biometric database and enrol hun-
dreds of millions of people. Aadhaar is intended to include the poor in India's growth
by giving them an identity and easier access to opening bank accounts, obtaining mo-
bile phones and gas connections and, most importantly, protecting the delivery of their aid
funds. 'This enhances access of the common man to public services while reducing the
hassle he or she faces in accessing the service,' says Nilekani.
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Nilekani sees this as a first step in a continuing programme to bring know-how meta-
phorically from his old base of Bengaluru to Delhi, using information technology to
streamline and improve government operations ranging from national information pro-
grammes to taxation. 'Needless to say, active political support and civil society engagement
regulatory and institutional reform to change the way the government relates with the
private sector as a buyer on defence and other equipment and services, as a seller such as
been advising the government on the formation of a not-for-profit company called Goods
and Services Tax Network (GSTN), jointly owned by central and state governments, with
additional private sector equity, that could provide a countrywide technology infrastructure
for the new tax.
Notes
Interview with JE, June 2013
'Harvard to get Kumbh lesson from Akhilesh',
Indian Express
, 13 April 2013,
ht-
In conversation with JE, May 2013
Rahul Mehotra's architecture firm website
http://rmaarchitects.com/
'Lessons of a temporary city - Researchers from across Harvard share findings from
India's Kumbh Mela festival',
Harvard Gazette
, 4 April 2013,
http://news.harvard.edu/
Speaking at the British Council in Delhi, May 2013
