[Reader-list] News Items posted on the net on Multipurpose National Identity Cards-28

[Taha Mehmood]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Lucknow/UP_shows_way_for_multipurpose_ID_card/articleshow/msid-1429076,curpg-1.cms

UP shows way for multipurpose ID card
26 Feb 2006, 0207 hrs IST, Arvind Singh Bisht, TNN


LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh leads the nation by becoming the first state to be
all set for issuing the multipurpose national identity
card.

A pilot project started in 2003 for this purpose is about to be completed in
Nautanwa tehasil of Maharajganj district.

The project was conceived at the behest of the Centre under its scheme to
establish a national register of Indian citizens.

The multipurpose identity cards are important from nation's security point
of view as it would help police in identifying infiltrators, criminals,
smugglers and terrorists from across the border as every valid resident of
the country would be carrying the identity card.

A pilot project is currently underway in UP along with 12 other states. Two
tehasils were taken up for survey under the project in J&K, one
specific area each in Uttranchal, West Bengal, Assam, Tirpura, Tamil Nadu,
Karnataka, Goa, Pandicherry, Gujarat, Rajesthan and Delhi.

In this regard, UP is ahead of all other states as a baseline survey which
is crucial for the project is about to be completed in Nautanwa tehsil of
Maharajganj.

The tehsil has a mixed population of over 4 lakh, with a heavy strength of
Nepalis. Nautanwa is also considered to be significant from the security
point of view due to increased activities of Maoist and high incidence of
smuggling through Nepal borders.

The card will be issued to all citizens above 15 years and would contain
specific data of the person related to socio-economic status, property
details and place of reside.

Each card will contain a unique national identity number, which would be
computer compatible and the information contained in it will be available in
network.

There will be scope for updating information stored in the card. Once the
trial project is found satisfactory, it would be initiated in other parts of
the state. The card will also be a legal document for identification of
person.

Apart from this, the card is linked to the Centre's plan to make
registration of births and deaths compulsory in the country.

At present, only 56 per cent of births and 50 per cent of deaths are
registered, despite the fact that the registration of births and deaths is
compulsory under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.
Incidentally UP lags behind in this aspect along with Assam, Bihar and West
Bengal. These states recorded less than 40 per cent of total
births. Assam recorded only 11 per cent deaths and 28 per cent births.

Surprisingly, J&K is among the better states in this respect along with
Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra.

The identity card will, thus, be useful in monitoring the growth of
population, which has witnessed a significant fall in the sex ratio of since
1991.

The 10th Five-Year Plan has set a target of reducing the infant mortality to
28 per 1,000 births by 2012.

If this target is to be achieved, information about the infant mortality
rate for every region and every socio-economic group will be required which
would also be contained in the multipurpose card.