NEW DELHI, March 19 � The Union Government cleared the National Population Register (NPR) Project to cover an estimated 1.2 billion people. The project is estimated to cost Rs 3539.24 crore.
The project proposes creation of a digital database with identity details of all residents along with their photographs and finger biometrics. It would result in the creation of a biometrics based identity system in the country, said official sources.
The existence of such a database will enhance the efficacy of providing services to the residents under Government schemes and programmes, as well as improve security scenario and check identity frauds in the country.
The data collection would be undertaken along with house listing and housing census starting in April, 2010 and would be completed in a phased manner by September, 2010, said sources.
The collection of particulars of each usual resident would be undertaken by house-to house enumeration. The enumerators canvassing House listing Schedule of Census 2011, will canvass the NPR schedule also. The filled-in NPR schedule will be digitised in two languages � English and the official language of every State.
This will be followed by capture of photographs and 10 fingerprints of all those who are of age 15 years and above. A printout of certain data fields and photographs would be displayed in villages in rural areas and wards in urban areas for inviting objections from the public for corrections in spellings of names, dates of birth, residency status. These objections would be disposed of through a series of appellate authorities at village, tehsil and district levels.
The draft database would be placed before the gram sabha and local bodies for authentication of usual residents. Once finalised, the NPR database will be sent to Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) for biometric de-duplication and assigning of a unique identification number. This UID number will be added to the NPR database, said sources.
Meanwhile, the controversy over update of the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) continues to rage, with Asom Sanmilita Mahasangha (ASM), a joint body of indigenous people today urging the Centre to stick to its November 9 notification.
A delegation of the ASM has submitted memorandum to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) calling for update of the NRIC on the basis of the 1966 electoral rolls. Assam Assembly had this week passed a resolution supporting 1971 as the cut-off date for establishing citizenship.
Working president of the ASM Motiur Rehman told newsmen in the name of detection and deportation of illegal migrants, the Government has spent Rs 150 crore. He sought to know the outcome of the government�s initiative. Influx of illegal migrants from Bangladesh and Nepal has reduced the percentage of indigenous people in Assam to 45 per cent, he claimed.
Rehman said that Government of India should sign a treaty with Government of Bangladesh to ensure repatriation of Bangladeshi illegal migrants detected in India.
