[Reader-list] News Items posted on the net on Multipurpose National Identity Cards-45

[Taha Mehmood]

http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/05/stories/2006120505470300.htm

The Hindu
Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 05, 2006

*Pilot project to issue identity cards apace *

C. Jaishnakar

* Verification under way at Thiruvadanai taluk The distribution of
Multipurpose National Identity Card will begin on April 1, 2007 *

  RAMANATHAPURAM: A pilot project to issue Multipurpose National Identity
Card (MNIC) to Indian citizens is under way at Thiruvadanai taluk of the
district.

It is the only taluk in the State and one among 20 in the country where the
project has been taken up under the direction of Union Home Ministry. All
citizens, who have attained the age of 18 and living in the select taluks
will be given digitally printed identity card.

The project, started three years ago, has reached the final phase —
verification of information provided by the people living in seven firkas of
the taluk. As per the enumeration, the population of the taluk is 2,18,318
(above 18 years). As per the requirements of the Home Ministry, the
residents should give at least one proof, particularly birth certificate.
Those who do not have a birth certificate should produce a document such as
land record as proof of domicile.

So far, documents of 1,81,451 persons have been verified. Out of which
1,65,280 persons have been identified as citizens and 1,811 persons as
residents. Information about 36,000 persons is yet to be verified.

 Pat for State

 Chandrakant Kamble, Director, Census, who is here to expedite the process,
has expressed happiness over the progress of the project. Kamble, who is
here to speed up the process, has expressed satisfaction over the progress
of the project. "It is, no doubt, a highly difficult task. This kind of
exercise has never been taken up in the country. But, the State has earned a
good name from the Home Ministry for preparing a hundred per cent accurate
list, at a recent review meeting in New Delhi," he said.

The distribution of MNIC would begin on April 1, 2007. Bharath Electronics
Ltd, Indian Telephone Industry Ltd and Electronic Corporation of India Ltd
had been chosen to print cards.

This would be taken up in Chennai in a high security zone. Secrecy would be
maintained during the process of printing cards for all pilot project taluks
of South India, he said.

K.S. Muthuswaamy, Collector, said no foreigner, including Sri Lankan
refugees and repatriates, if they lived in Thiruvadanai, would be given
MNIC. Since, the pilot area was a coastal area and close to Sri Lanka,
officials were asked to crosscheck the documents, he said.