India News --- Unique Identification Numbers (Aadhaar)

PM, Sonia launch Unique Identity Number project

CNN-IBN
Posted on Sep 29, 2010 at 14:15 | Updated Sep 29, 2010 at 14:47

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Tembhli: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi handed out the first set of Unique Identification Number to tribals in Tembhli village of Maharashtra's Nandurbar district on Wednesday.

Ten tribals from Tembhli village got their Unique Identification Numbers (Aadhaar) from Singh and Sonia. They were randomly selected by the Nandan Nilekani-headed Unique Identification Authority of India.

"It is our ambitious project. Every Indian should get an identity. It will empower Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes and all under privileged sections. Aadhaar covers various rural development programmes. I congratulate Nandan Nilekani for this. He has achieved it in just 14 months," said Singh while launching the project.

"Aadhaar will help the unemployed poor. UID is a historical step to help the poor and Tembhli is the first Aadhaar village," said Sonia.

Unique Identification Authority of India Chairman Nandan Nilekani said that UID would help all the citizens of India who don't have any identity card.

"Many people in our country don't have their identity cards. UID will help them. UID will be recognised everywhere. One UID will be issued to one person," he said.

About 1400 villagers have been enrolled in the inaugural programme. The Unique Identification Number is a unique 12 digit number that will store information like an individual's name, face and biometric scans.

Nilekani plans to cover 60 per cent of the people in the country in the next three years. The project will be launched in Karnataka in October.

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