[Reader-list] News Items posted on the net on Multipurpose National Identity Cards-62

[Taha Mehmood]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Delhi/Multi-purpose_smart_cards_arrive/articleshow/2070343.cms

The Times of India

Multi-purpose smart cards arrive
24 May 2007, 0127 hrs IST, Vishwa Mohan, TNN

NEW DELHI: The Centre has chosen Narela in north Delhi to kick-start the
distribution of the much-awaited multi-purpose national identity cards
(MNIC) in the country. Residents of the area will be handed these
microprocessor-based cards on Saturday.

Nearly 30 lakh people of 11 states and two union territories will get the smart
cards<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Delhi/Multi-purpose_smart_cards_arrive/articleshow/2070343.cms#>,
which contain as many as 16 personal details of an individual along with a
unique national identity number, within a month. The entire population of
the country will be covered by 2012.

"These identity cards — based on a sophisticated application called SCOSTA —
are basically secured electronic devices that are used for keeping data and
other information in such a way that only authorised users are permitted to
see or write the data," said a senior home ministry official.

Besides comprising name, sex, permanent and present residential addresses,
marital status, place of birth, names of spouse (if ever married) and
photograph, the card will also have 'finger biometrics' and 'visible
identification mark' of an individual. The
records<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Delhi/Multi-purpose_smart_cards_arrive/articleshow/2070343.cms#>will
be kept as a part of National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC). The
register will be continuously updated by linking it to the compulsory
registration of births and deaths.

The official said: "Once the entire population will be covered, there will
not be a need to even issue separate voters identity cards as the MNIC can
also be used as identification in elections. Besides being used as a
credible individual identification
system<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Delhi/Multi-purpose_smart_cards_arrive/articleshow/2070343.cms#>,
the smart cards will also act as a major deterrent for future illegal
immigrants."

Under the existing plan, the citizens will not need to have separate ration
card or even driving licence after procuring the smart cards as the
computerised chips used in the MNIC will have enough space to fit in all
such information as and when required.

Though the pilot project to provide MNICs to citizens was laun-ched in 2003,
it eventually took the government nearly four years to deliver the first
card under the scheme.

The registrar general and census commissioners D K Sikri will launch the
card delivery operation by handing over hundreds of cards to villagers of
Pooth Khurd (Narela) in northwest Delhi on Saturday.

Others who will get their cards within a month of the operation beginning
Saturday are from Karimganj in Assam, Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, Kutch in
Gujarat, Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, Pithoragarh in Uttrakhand, Maharajganj in
Uttar Pradesh, West Tripura in Tripura, Murshidabad in West Bengal, north
district in Goa, Medak in Andhra Pradesh, Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu,
Northwest district in Delhi and Puducherry district in Puducherry.

Officials attributed the delay to some problem faced by officials in Assam
where it took long time for them to conduct 'citizenship status verification
drive' due to problem of illegal immigration. "The pilot project in 13
districts across the country was first envisaged to be completed by 2004 and
subsequently by December 2005, but it took more time due to delay in
verification exercise," said the official.

Though other states had overcome the teething problem quickly, Assam had
become a main obstacle where the officials appeared to be reluctant in
conducting the drive due to local resistance.

vishwa.mohan at timesgroup.com