[coofluence]

There is a massive love in India for documents. To get any service in private or public sector, you need ID proofs and address proofs. Even to browse internet at a "net cafe", you need to produce ID proof! That's so because authorities can catch (and some side cash) you if you were browsing anything against what they think the law is.

The problem is that there is massive trust deficit. Public too is keen to cheat whenever a loophole exists due to simplified procedures. That invites even harsher regulation and the cycle of submitting 10 documents where 1 would be suffice continues. There are endless certificates and NOCs (no-objection certifcates) required to operate in India: Aadhar citizen number, PAN number, TAN number, Service Tax number, Excise registration, LBT registration, Domicile, 7/12 extracts, 20 year old vouchers for LPG gas cylinders, nationality...and so it goes. Also, there is very little belief about who you are and where you live. So for everything an address proof is required apart from an ID.

Any wonder that there are no ground-level start-up stories from India. All that we can do is morph into HSFC (Human Services for Cheap) model to serve the rich western countries who want to off-load their guilt of wanting modern 'e-slaves' in the post-industrial world but not being able to fund their liabilities.