Columns | OPEN MINDS (2009-2019): PUBLIC SQUARE
Nandan Nilekani, 64, Intrepreneur
Data is Destiny
Open 19 Jul, 2019
The swirling insecurities and resentments that have mired Aadhaar do not take away from the grand vision of a man who architected a futuristic digital identity framework that currently covers 1.19 billion people. Over 550 million have linked their Aadhaar numbers to their bank accounts and an amount of nearly a lakh crore rupees has been transferred to Direct Benefit Transfer accounts. A strong proponent of Aadhaar and the India Stack, the former Unique Identification Authority of India chairman, a cabinet-rank position, has welcomed measures by the Authority to reinforce privacy protection for Aadhaar numberholders. The IT stalwart and Infosys co-founder eventually returned to steer the company in 2017 as non-executive chairman. With his reinstatement, Infosys hopes to relive its glory days when revenues had grown sixfold to nearly $3 billion under Nilekani as CEO between 2002 and 2007.
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