Aadhaar is like $1.3 billion ill spent: Hotmail Co-founder
The Indian government’s ambitious project, Aadhaar, has been under scrutiny for its costs and effectiveness. Recently, Hotmail’s co-founder Sabeer Bhatia sparked a controversy by stating that spending $1.3 billion on building Aadhaar was unnecessary. In an interview, Bhatia expressed his disappointment and frustration over the massive expenditure on the project, which he believes could have been achieved at a much lower cost.
According to Bhatia, the Aadhaar project is an example of mismanagement and a lack of understanding of technology. He stated that the biometric data collected by Aadhaar is not being utilized effectively, and the entire project could have been built for a fraction of the cost. “Aadhaar is like $1.3 billion ill spent…Because Aadhaar took all of your biometrics, where is that being used?…You can build it in under $20 million,” Bhatia said.
Bhatia’s comments have sparked a heated debate about the effectiveness and cost of the Aadhaar project. While some have defended the project, citing its ability to provide a unique identification number to citizens, others have criticized it for its lack of transparency and accountability.
Aadhaar was launched in 2009 with the aim of providing a unique identity to every Indian citizen. The project was hailed as a technological marvel, with the government claiming that it would revolutionize the way citizens interacted with government services. However, over the years, several issues have arisen, including concerns over data privacy, security, and the massive expenditure involved in building the project.
Critics of the project have long argued that the costs associated with Aadhaar are exorbitant, and that the project has failed to deliver on its promises. The project has also faced numerous challenges, including delays, glitches, and security breaches. Despite these challenges, the government has continued to defend the project, citing its benefits and the need for a unique identification system.
However, Bhatia’s comments have raised serious questions about the project’s costs and effectiveness. He has called out the government for its lack of understanding of technology and its failure to deliver on its promises. “Whoever did this is not a technologist…They don’t know technology. They have never coded in their lives,” he added.
Bhatia’s criticism of the Aadhaar project is not without merit. The project has been plagued by issues, and the costs associated with it have been staggering. According to reports, the project has cost the government over $1.3 billion, with some estimates suggesting that the total cost could be much higher.
In conclusion, Sabeer Bhatia’s comments on the Aadhaar project have sparked a much-needed debate about the effectiveness and cost of the project. While some may defend the project, citing its benefits and the need for a unique identification system, others have raised serious concerns about the project’s costs and effectiveness. As the government continues to defend the project, it is essential that it addresses the concerns raised by critics like Bhatia and works to improve the project’s transparency and accountability.
