Unique Identity for Coastal Villagers

Finally the most sensitive issues to curb the terrorism and separate common civilians from the unidentified terrorist seem to be making way. As part of the gigantic exercise to provide unique identity (UID) numbers to the citizens, the Centre has notified the setting up of the National Authority for Unique Identity (NAUID) and asked nine coastal states and four Union Territories (UTs) to provide details of coastal villages by February 1 so that the task to create a data base for issuing the cards to villagers can begin.

Unique Identity an integral part of the ongoing Multi-Purpose National Identity Card (MNIC) scheme will be issued to citizens living in coastal villages of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal by 2010. The Union Territories, which will be covered under the first phase, are: Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Lakshadweep, Puducherry and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

The initial plan is to cover the coastal villages to avoid terrorists taking sea rout once again. To issue UIDs to residents of coastal villages has been taken in the wake of the 26/11 terror attack which exposed their vulnerability. The scheme is likely to cover the entire country by 2012.

The identification number will be provided by National Authority for Unique Identity (NAUID), an entity under the Planning Commission. It will work in coordination with the office of the Registrar General of India (RGI) which has been working on the National Population Register.

The identity cards proposed to be issued will be micro processor chip based cards which will have information of each individual, his/her finger biometrics as well as photograph.

A unique "National Identity Number" will be assigned to each individual including those below 18 years of age. This number will become a "link number" with any other application of the state government.

Currently, the government is in the process of implementing the MNIC scheme and creating a National Population Register (NPR), which will have data on identified characteristics for each individual along with the 2011 Census.

NAUID will be responsible for creating and maintaining the core database and laying down all necessary procedures for issuance and usage of UIDs, including arrangements for collection, validation and authentication of information, proper security of data and rules for sharing and access of data.

This is the much talked and awaited initiative from the policy makers and politicians, who have been sleepy and ignoring on the issues of national and citizens’ security.