'Mobile phones will be used to verify UID number'

New Delhi, Sep 27: Unique Identification Authority chief Nandan Nilekani on Saturday, Sep 26 said that identity authentication at banks, gas connection centres or while providing rural jobs will be an SMS away.

Nilekani said, "Our project will provide a unique identification (UID) number, not a card. The authentication will be made by using mobile phones."

"Once the numbers are issued, we will go for online authentication. Let"s say, you are asking for a job under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). The authorities will send your UID number to the designated points through mobile phone message. A message will be returned saying 'Yes' or 'No'," Nilekani said.

He said banks, mobile service providers, LPG gas connection counters and many more partner organisations can use this UID to verify their customer. "With the growing mobile phone network, this will become an easy process for authorities to verify people."

"The fingerprint of the person can be sent to the central database and receive the authentication within minutes. This will verify whether you are the person you are claiming to be," he said,

"This will not require much personal details to be divulged. It will help provide portability to our farmers, labourers. When they move from state to state, this UID will help them get employment without hassles," he added.

OneIndia News