[Reader-list] Smart Cards in J&K

[Sanjay Kak]

In the hope that I have beaten Taha to this one...
Best
Sanjay Kak


http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15587&Itemid=1

For PRC, verification, DOB, address proof and voter identity
Govt will introduce all-purpose Smart Cards
Abid Bashir

Srinagar, Aug 05: Jammu and Kashmir is all set to go hi-tech with
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah going to introduce multipurpose
(biometric) Smart Cards which would act as the person’s Permanent
Resident Certificate, photo identity card, voter card and if all goes
well, a permit to cross over the Line of Control too.
According to government officials, the system is being introduced to
streamline the administration and to provide relief to a common man to
get his work done without much hassles.
The chief minister chaired a meeting in this regard on June 3 and is
scheduled to chair another meeting on the issue in the next few days.
An official letter dated 3 June 2009 suggests that Ankur Malhotra, an
expert on Smart Cards, who is associated with a multinational
consultancy, Price Water House Coopers made a full fledged
presentation before the Chief Minister about Smart Cards. Top
officials that include chief secretary S S Kapur, Divisional
Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu regions and Technical Director had
also participated in the meeting.
Secretary Revenue, Sheikh Ejaiz Iqbal, who was present in the meeting,
told Rising Kashmir, Malhotra was invited by the IT department to
brief Chief Minister about the various dimensions of Smart Cards that
can be introduced in JK. “There will be another meeting in this regard
very soon,” Iqbal said.
Sources close to the chief minister revealed that Omar was keen to
introduce Smart Cards in J&K to provide relief to a common man.
“He has been pursuing this issue over the past three months. But the
project got delayed due to his preoccupations,” they said. “Omar sahib
is scheduled to chair the meeting in this regard soon after the end of
the budget session.”
The IT consultants working on the project said the chief minister was
keen in introducing Smart Cards here but it has to been seen which
technology the government would like to introduce.
“Under biometric technology, Smart Card can serve many purposes. It
can serve as residential proof, voter card and photo identity card.
There needs to be a full fledged central database of the card
holders,” they explained. “If the State government accepts biometric
technology, finger print of a person is sufficient to identify him or
her.”
The government officials said since Smart Cards can serve as
residential proofs too, it can be considered as the permit for
traveling across the LoC.
“LoC travel will become easier,” they said. “Besides, the overall
administrative system will get streamlined.”
However, the IT consultants working on this ambitious project said the
project largely depends on New Delhi’s cooperation.
“We’ve to keep the security angle in view as the State is sensitive in
certain terms. It depends on how much technology New Delhi allows the
State government to use,” they said.
“The chief minister will obviously have to discuss the security angle
of Smart Cards with New Delhi.”
A senior government official said a meeting of Chief Secretaries of
all States would be probably held at Srinagar in September where a
consensus would be evolved about introducing Smart Cards.
“Before heading for New Delhi, the chief minister will once again hear
the Smart Card expert,” he said.
The IT officials dealing with the project said the cards will have
27-digit unique identity numbers and personal information of the
individual and finger biometrics of the person with a photograph.