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In Andaman & Nicobar Islands, 282885 persons above the age of 18 years would be issued the identity cards

Union Home Minister launched the first batch of Resident Identity Cards in Andaman

23-Jan-2012, 09:48

The Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, launched the first batch of Resident Identity Cards (RIC) under the coastal National Population Register (NPR) project at Porthrapur village in South Andaman district of Andaman & Nicobar Islands on 22 January 2012. Bhulaxmi, a resident of Porthrapur, was the first recipient of the Resident Identity Card.

The RIC is a smart card having 64 KB micro processor chip. The National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, has finalized the visual layout of the card. In Andaman & Nicobar Islands, 365 villages and the town of Port Blair have been covered under the coastal NPR project. A total of 388398 persons have been covered. Of this, 282885 persons above the age of 18 years would be issued identity cards.

The Government of India had decided to create a National Population Register (NPR) in the country. As a first step, the coastal NPR project was taken up in coastal areas of 9 maritime states (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal) and 4 UTs (Andaman & Nicobar, Puducherry, Lakshadweep and Daman & Diu) as one of the measures for strengthening the security of the coastline of the country. The demographic data collection of 1.2 crore persons and the biometrics of 75 lakh persons in the 3331 coastal villages under the coastal NPR project have been completed. At present, production of identity (smart) cards is underway. Till date, 5 lakh cards have already been produced.

The scheme envisages collection of specific items of information of each individual in the coastal areas and issue of Resident Identity (smart) cards (RIC) to all usual residents, who are of age 18 years and above. In all, 3331 coastal villages have been covered in the first phase of the project in these States/UTs. In Andaman & Nicobar Islands, besides villages, the town of Port Blair has also been covered. The approved cost of the scheme is Rs 216.31 crore.