Government projects like the unique identification number project, the e-passport project and the project to give cards under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) is set to open up a cache of opportunities for many segments, including suppliers of plastic cards, chip modules, IT operation systems and system integrators and consultants.
Such are the emerging business opportunities that a Rs. 6 crore company Maze Cards India Pvt. Ltd. is confident of taking its turnover to Rs. 50 crore by 2013, riding on its capabilities of being the supplier of the key raw material, special grade plastic sheets, out of which these cards are made and also by being a qualified consultant which checks out technical specifications of the various components that go into the making of the cards. Maze Cards derives a special edge by being at the top of the plastics cards supply chain.
e-governance projects
The company is indirectly involved in a number of e-governance projects like the Multinational Identity Card for India (MNIC), the NREGS and the Rashtiya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY).
The volume of business that can be generated for the various players is virtually endless if all the projects go according to plan. Citing some instances, Maze CEO Nishaurg Doshi said in the case of NREGS cards, the prospective number of cards that would be required as the scheme is taken forward was estimated at 15 million against the 1.2 million cards issued now. A national identity card, it is expected, needs renewal every ten years. The e-passport (which will be akin to a conventional passport with an embedded antenna and a chip) will have to be renewed every ten years.
