[Reader-list] News Items posted on the net on Multipurpose National Identity Cards-98

[Taha Mehmood]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai/Alibaug_fishermen_to_get_biometric_smart_ID_cards/articleshow/4185448.cms

Alibaug fishermen to get biometric smart ID cards
25 Feb 2009, 0252 hrs IST, Vijay Singh, TNN

NAVI MUMBAI: Fisherfolk from the coastal village of Awas in Alibaug
taluka will be among the first few Indians to get the hi-tech
biometric
Multi-purpose National Identity Cards (MNIC), popularly known as smart cards.

As a security measure initiated by the Union home ministry to
undertake the National Population Register (NPR), along with the 2011
census in the country, Awas is just one of the four coastal villages
in India chosen for this elaborate biometric experiment.

Tehsildar of Alibaug taluka, V M Karnik, said: "Awas has been chosen
as one of the coastal villages to begin the the process of issuing
smart cards
. At present, the officials are going from house-to-house collecting
data. Later, their biometric fingerprinting scanning will also take
place. The other three villages chosen are in Orissa, Karnataka and
Andaman-Nicobar. The smart card will be tamper-proof as it will
contain the unique fingerprints of the holder, along with his or her
photograph and other vital details like PAN card number, driving
licence in an embedded electronic chip.

Companies like Bharat Electronics Limited, ITI and ECIL will help in
the production of smart cards, with active help from National
Informatics Centre.

"Once smart cards come in use, nobody can make a fake or a duplicate
card. Also, all transactions made by the smart card holder anywhere in
the country will be centrally processed and recorded,'' said an
official at Alibaug.

For example, if a smart card holder takes a loan from one bank, he or
she cannot fool another bank by taking another similar loan, as all
the information will be computerised and available.

The sarpanch of Awas, A Rane, told mediapersons: "We welcome the smart
card process. With this scheme, any outsider or foreigner can easily
be spotted.''

This is significant as intelligence agencies have warned of possible
terror attacks via the sea route as security is inadequate.