World Development Report lauds India’s Aadhaar card system

New Delhi: Providing a unique identification number called Aadhaar to every citizen of India proved all odds wrong as it was once considered impossible. And today, Washington is referring to India mentioning that how the country succeeded in reducing the corruption level in public services by providing this unique identity number to its mammoth population.

The new 'World Development Report 2016' noted that Indians were using their digital identification numbers called Aadhaar to open bank accounts, monitor attendance of civil servants, and identify recipients of government subsidies.

Deepak Mishra and UweDeichmann, leader of a 15 member team said in a 350 plus page report, "in public health services, simple SMS messages have proven effective in reminding people living with HIV to take their lifesaving drugs."

The report also gave a brief of the scenario around. It stated that no matter the advancement led to the increase in the number of cell phones, internet supplies, and connectivity and in other digital technologies. But on the other side of the coin these all advancement have led to a great loss in the number of jobs, growth and better public services and most importantly expectations.

"The digital revolution is transforming the world, aiding information flows, and facilitating the rise of developing nations that are able to take advantage of these new opportunities," said Kaushik Basu, World Bank Chief Economist.

According to an analysis, at most 60% of the world's population still remain unaware and omitted out of all such expansions and advancements in the digital economy. Undoubtedly, the number of internet users increased from 2005, but still more than four billion people around the world remain deprived of the web.

And to excel in the digital age, two methods have been put forward by the World Bank. Making the internet universal, affordable, open, safe as this will ensure competition among business, adapting workers' skills to the demands of the new economy and fostering accountable institutions.

China being the most populated country has a massive number of internet users, but on the other hand, India and China both contribute to the largest number of offline users. Whereas, more than 120 million people are offline in North America.

Rapid advancements and internet has led to business expansion as well. The report claimed that India, Jamaica and the Philippines have captured the shares of global markets. More and more opportunities for people have increased exponentially.

Traction costs have minimized, jobs can be shortlisted easily. Most importantly, women can come forward and show up their talents. Differently abled people can prove themselves as an asset to the society.

As internet has got no boundaries, it is limitless in all its domains. This strategy has let people to exchange goods from across the border, which in along run also strengthens the relations within two countries. (Inputs from agencies)