My suggestion is that the Prime Minister should set up something like a Good Governance Reforms Implementation Authority, chaired by him so that he imparts to it the full weight of his office. The Administrative Reforms Commission, set up by the previous UPA government under the chairmanship of Veerappa Moily, has made a comprehensive set of recommendations, almost all of which have an E-governance component. And nearly all of them require the implementation of the unique ID scheme. These recommendations encompass the issues of national security, development, corruption-free delivery of government services, and transparency, efficiency and accountability in the functioning of various institutions of democracy (including the judiciary). Hence, the UIDAI should function as a subset of a larger mission for the promotion of good governance. Moreover, the Centre should proactively make all political parties, state governments and local self-government bodies partners in achieving speedy progress of both the unique ID card scheme as well as the broader mission for good governance reforms.

Nilekani’s is by no means an easy assignment. There are many thorny issues that he will have to handle, above all a change-resistant system of governance. He needs our good wishes.

sudheenkulkarni@gmail.com