[Reader-list] News Items posted on the net on Multipurpose National Identity Cards-6

[Taha Mehmood]

http://pib.nic.in/archieve/lreleng/lyr2002/rmay2002/07052002/r0705200210.html
7th May, 2002

NATIONAL IDENTITY CARDS
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A proposal to issue Multipurpose National Identity Cards (MNICs) to Indian
citizens, including the people residing in the border areas of the country
is receiving Government's attention. These cards, apart from providing a
credible identification system, may have multifarious uses.

The issue of MNICs would involve creation of an identification system for
more than one billion citizens, streamlining the existing machinery for the
registration of birth and deaths at the grass root level and choices of
institutional as well as technological options for the creation of an
integrated data base of personal identities capable of being continuously
updated. The Government would finalize its decision only after an in-depth
examination of all relevant issues and after making necessary preparations,
including the legal backing to the scheme.

Issuing National Identity Cards under the provisions of the Citizenship Act,
1955 is one of the options available.

The issue of National Identity Cards was discussed and endorsed in the
conference of Chief Ministers on Internal Security held on 17th November
2001.

The information was given in the Lok Sabha by the Minister of State for Home
Shri Ch. Vidyasagar Rao in a written reply today.