[Reader-list] News Items posted on the net on Multipurpose National Identity Cards-127

[Taha Mehmood]

http://www.kalingatimes.com/odisha_news/news2009/20090612_Coastal_security_cards_likely_in_Kendrapara_district.htm

Coastal security cards likely in Kendrapara district

 By Manoj Kar
Kendrapara, June 12: To thwart infiltration and sea route threat to
national security, the coastal villages of Kendrapara district are
being covered under a comprehensive survey with issuance of
multi-purpose identity cards to the settlers.

It's a massive exercise of the Central government to intensify vigil
on coastal villagers in the wake of 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai. The
administrative machineries are being geared up for scheduled
commencement of the exercise in July and it would come to an end in
January 2010, according to official sources.

As many as 97 seaside villages are being taken up survey next month
strictly in accordance with Central government guidelines. While 55
villages of Rajnagar tehsil would come under the project, 41 human
settlements are earmarked for next month's survey work. A lone village
under Rajkanika tehsil is also coming under multi-purpose identity
card project, said Ranjan Kumar Das, Kendrapara Sub-collector, who
recently attended a conference of district collectors from country's
coastal zones.

Both Rajnagar and Mahakalpada tehsils are widely regarded as the
epicenter of unlawful settlement of Bangladeshis. A total of 1677
Bangla infiltrators are still firmly ensconced in these areas as per
official enumeration while unofficial statistics put the number at
more than 50,000. Of these officially enumerated foreign nationals,
1551 Bangladeshis had faced Quit India notice on 15 January 20005. But
the deportation notice was put on hold on alleged charge of erroneous
enumeration.

The ambitious coastal security project is being jointly implemented by
the Census Directorate and the union Home Department.

The Sub Collector said that enumerators would gather wide-ranging
details of settlers of these coastal villages. The information-sheet
will contain among things the genealogical order of the family, their
nativity status of family, including the finger prints of those above
the age of 15. It could be used as a multi-purpose ID card instead of
the existing voter ID card.

All people in the coastal areas, including those who are not residing
on a permanent basis, foreigners and those from outside areas, will be
included in the survey, said officials.

Official sources said the population of around 3 lakh people in 97
thickly populated coastal villages in will be covered under the
Central government's unique identity card scheme by 2010.

"As the project is of paramount national importance, we are laying
emphasis on its timely commencement of completion. The enumerators
would be trained on the pros and cons of the project. Then houses in
coastal villages listed and numbered" said Das.

This unique National Identity Number' will be assigned to each
individual including those below 18 years of age. This number will
become a link number' with any other application of the state
government.