The UID project, the flagship programme of the UPA (“ >Aadhaar, no more than a framed photograph ,” March 18), is a flop and a waste of crores of rupees of public money. The Aadhaar-linked LPG subsidy scheme has been withheld and no other schemes have been linked to the card. On personal experience I find that Aadhaar cannot be even used as an ID or “address proof” to open a bank account. The article reflected the sentiments expressed in the Editorial page article (March 18) — of good ideas but bad planning being India’s Achilles heel.
Chaitra C.S.,Bangalore
The article evoked strong feelings and anger at the claim that Aadhaar’s purpose is to give an identity to the citizen of India. Have we Indians been without an identity all the while? The term “identity” has a larger connotation and all of us cannot be reduced to being a mere 12-digit number on a database — in a way, it is dehumanising. The irony of this is that all this is taking place at a time when people here face, at various levels, a crisis of identity due to the unbridled pursuit of policies of liberalisation and globalisation.
A.P. Govindankutty,Painkulam, Kerala
Banks release loans only after fulfilling certain rules and regulations. Likewise, public utilities like SEBs and water authorities do have some conditions to be fulfilled before the benefits flow. Aadhaar is only a proof of identity to avail of social security benefits from the government. Progress in issuing the card is slow on account of political opposition to the way it is being linked to essential commodities.
Rajan Vairavan,Thiruvananthapuram
The scheme appears to be another UPA scam. There may have been a purpose behind it but it is inexcusable that crores of rupees have been wasted on a floundering scheme. With Mr. Nilekani’s resignation from the UIDAI, India might as well bid farewell to it.
Sandeep V. Nair,Paravur, Kerala
