Centre to provide MNIC to all citizens

Agartala, Mar 5 (UNI) With the successful implementation of experimental phase of issuing Multi-purpose National Identity Card (MNIC) in selected districts of 13 bordering states, including Tripura, the Centre has initiated a project to provide MNIC to all Indian citizen.

The Census officials said here today that even though the union government had not received any report from any state governments for issuing Photo Identity Cards mandatory for citizens, the authority proposed to issue the same to citizens.

The project envisages providing unique National Identity Number (NIN) to each person in the National Population Register(NPR).

However, keeping in view the complexities involved both in the processes and technology, a pilot project was implemented on an experiment basis covering a population of 30.95 lakh in the selected areas in 12 States and one Union Territory in July, 2007.

The initial phase had covered Tripura, Assam, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Pudducherry, the officials said and added that under the pilot project identity (smart) cards are being issued to the citizens of 18 years and above.

The production and distribution of identity cards has been undertaken through Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSUs) but due to time taken in sourcing or raw materials and stabilization of rejects during personalisation, the project will be completed by March, 2008.

An amount of Rs 44.36 crore had been sanctioned for the pilot project, the officials added.

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