GOOD IDEAS, BAD THINKING

Comments "Everywhere the challenge is to deploy a reliable network serving client as customers. Controls of KYC are needed but they should serve the prupose and not block the service. Here is the story of a good idea turned into a bad service at the end"

Extract "Direct benefit transfers are expected by the United Progressive Alliance to be a game changer. They are expected to largely eliminate leakage and theft of benefits. Identification of residents will be by the Aadhaar number, but there is yet no foolproof, non-discretionary way to identify all beneficiaries. The direct benefit transfer can take place only to identified beneficiaries. However, it will save theft and waste by eliminating the handling and distributing of foodgrains and other subsidized or free goods and services."

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M Pesa in India

Comment "Will M-Pesa be able to reproduce the same success in India ?"

Extract " Vodafone India along with ICICI bank on Wednesday launched its mobile money transfer and payment service ‘M-Pesa’ in Delhi, expanding the footprint in the Capital.

The company plans to roll-out the service in Mumbai and Lucknow in the next couple of days, in a bid to tap the migrant population."

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Indian Railways to begin mobile payments, ticketing

 
Comment "this is a large scale try. To be followed.."

Extract "One of the world's largest railway systems is going mobile. According to the Economic Times of India, IRCTC, the subsidiary of the Indian Railways that handles ticketing, will begin offering train tickets via SMS messaging beginning in July"
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