[Reader-list] News Items posted on the net on Multipurpose National Identity Cards-11

[Taha Mehmood]

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http://pib.nic.in/archieve/lreleng/lyr2003/raug2003/21082003/r2108200315.html
21st August, 2003*
*PARLIAMENTARY CONSULTTIVE COMMITTEE OF MHA DISCUSSES MULTI-PURPOSE NATIONAL
IDENTITY CARD PROJECT*
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The Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to the Home Ministry met
this morning under the Chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister, Shri L.K.
Advani. The Session exclusively discussed the Multi-purpose National
Identity Card Project (MNIC) which is to be launched soon. A pilot project
on the scheme has already been taken up in a few selected sub-districts in
various districts of 13 States namely Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Uttranchal,
Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Tripura, Goa,
Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Delhi. The pilot project which was initiated in
April, 2003 is likely to be completed in a year's time covering
approximately a population of 29 lakhs.

Before the in-depth discussion on the MNIC project was taken up, the
Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Shri J.K. Banthia made a
presentation on the scheme, its objectives, the mandate and the methodology
for implementing the scheme. The presentation encompassed the
recommendations of the Group of Ministers on reforming the National Security
System. The GOM while proposing the introduction of a Multi-purpose National
Identity Card for Indian citizens said:

"Illegal migration has assumed serious proportions. There should be
compulsory registration of citizens and non-citizens living in India. This
will facilitate preparation of a national register of citizens. All citizens
should be given a Multi-purpose National Identity Card (MNIC) and
non-Multi-purpose National Identity Card (MNIC) and non-citizens should be
issued identity cards of a different colour and design. This should be
introduced initially in the border districts or may be in a 20 Kms border
belt and extended to the hinterland progressively. The Central Government
should meet the full cost of the identity card scheme". This recommendation
was accepted by the Government and immediate steps were taken to launch the
pilot project. It was said that the pilot project will not only give an
opportunity to acquire efficiency but also help take measures to remove
hurdles likely to be faced while the MNIC Project is taken up on a
country-wide basis for a population of more than 100 crores.

The objective of the project is to prepare a Population Register, a National
Register of Indian Citizens, providing a unique National Identity Number to
each citizen and also a Multi-purpose Residency Card to non-citizens.

The graphic presentation while mentioning the output said the scheme will
provide a credible individual identification system and speed up
transactions between the individual and the service provider with greater
efficiency. The MNIC will also function as a necessary instrument for
e-governance. It will be user friendly interface between the citizen and the
government and will function as a deterrent for future illegal immigration.

Members attending the meeting highly appreciated the steps taken to launch
this project. A few members while hailing the scheme, which will go a long
way in identifying illegal immigration, raised some area-specific problems
in places like the North-East and the Andaman Nicobar Islands. Some Members
suggested that the system of enumeration should be insulated from political
pressure and problems of religion, caste and creed considerations. A
suggestion was also made for female enumerators in areas where the female
members of a family hesitate to meet a male visitor/enumerator.

The Deputy Prime Minister while assuring the Members for all safeguards for
the successful implementation of the project, allayed fears of any influence
or pressure to stall the project. Shri L.K. Advani while referring the Chief
Minister's Conference in which the matter was discussed said initially there
was some hesitation by some States but ultimately all unanimously agreed for
launching the MNIC Project. This was also endorsed in the last Conference of
Chief Secretaries from States, he added.

In reply to some queries the Home Secretary, Shri N. Gopalaswami said for
all adult citizens it will be a Photo Identity Card.

Members who attended the Consultative Committee Meeting are S/Shri G.M.
Banatwalla; M.S. Delkar; Bishnu Pada Ray; Somnath Chatterjee; Shivraj V.
Patil; Joyanta Rongpi; Avtar Singh Bhadana; Pawan Kumar Bansal; Ali Mohd.
Naik; and Anadicharan Sahu all from Lok Sabha and S/Shri S. Roy Chowdhury;
P.C. Alexander; Karan Singh; Suresh Pachouri; and Balbir K. Punj all from
Rajya Sabha.

The Ministers of State Shri Harin Pathak, Shri I.D. Swami, Swami
Chinmayanand, the Home Secretary, Shri N. Gopalaswami and senior officials
were present.