Port Blair, Jan 20: The first tranche of Resident Identity (smart) card (RIC) will be distributed by Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram at a function in Porthrapur village at 2 p.m tomorrow. Mr. Chidambaram is scheduled to arrive at Port Blair tomorrow on a two day visit to A&N Islands. The RIC is a smart card with 64 KB micro processor chip. About 2.56 lakh cards will be distributed to all persons who have completed 18 years of age in Andaman & Nicobar Islands
It had been decided to create a National Population Register (NPR) in the 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 scheme envisages collection of specific items of information of each individual in the coastal areas and issue Resident Identity (smart) cards (RIC) to all usual residents, who are of age 18 years and above. All the selected 3331 coastal villages have been covered in the first phase of the project of these States/UTs.
In Andaman & Nicobar Islands, besides the villages, all the towns will also be covered in the first phase itself. The approved cost of the scheme is Rs. 216.31 crore.
The National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmadabad, has finalized the visual layout of this smart card (RIC). It incorporates several physical security features like Guilloché patterns, hot stamped hologram and micro text etc. The security features in the micro processor chip have been finalized based on the recommendations of a Technical Committee, headed by the Director General, National Informatics Centre (NIC) and consisting of several renowned experts from academic institutions and industry. The electronic security features include Key Management System (KMS) involving Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), Symmetric Key Infrastructure (SKI) etc.
A Consortium of Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) comprising of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) and Indian Telephone Industries Limited (ITIL) was awarded the work of direct data collection, capture of photograph and ten fingerprints. Enumerators (Govt. officials) were assisted by data entry operators, provided by the CPSUs. The production and personalization of the RIC cards have been undertaken through the CPSUs. They have setup state-of-the-art production and personalization facilities at secure premises for the coastal NPR project. The delivery of the RICs would be undertaken by India Post for secure delivery to the usual residents.
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. Till date, 5 lakh Identity (smart) cards have been produced.
The Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram will initiate distribution of Resident Identity (smart) cards in Tamil Nadu at a function in Pattipulam village in Chengalpattu Taluk, Kancheepuram district on 23rd January, 2012.
Itinerary of Home Minister
Soon after arrival on January 21, 2012, the Union Home Minister will visit the National Memorial Cellular Jail where he would be accorded Guard of Honour. He will then lay wreath at the Martyrs’ Column in the precincts of the memorial and also visit the museum galleries and thereafter the Ross Island. He will be visiting the Prothrapur Community Hall at 1410 hours for distribution of NPR Cards to the villagers of Prothrapur. The other programmes for the day includes meeting with officers of A&N Administration and Presentation on Economic Perspective and Security issues of A&N Islands, meeting with representatives of political parties, Chairperson PBMC, Adhyaksh, Zilla Parishad (N&M) at Raj Niwas from 1630 hours to 1730 hours besides meeting with the Congress workers at Gandhi Bhawan and witnessing the Sound and Light Show at the National Memorial Cellular Jail.
On January 22, 2012, the Union Home Minister will visit the Tsunami Memorial at Big Lapathy, Car Nicobar Coconut Mission plot at Small Lapathy, Permanent Tsunami Shelter at Tamaloo and meeting with Tribal Council Members at the community hall, Perka in Car Nicobar. On his return from Car Nicobar the Union Home Minister will be meeting with Fishermen and Craftsmen of Andamans and representative of Ex-servicemen Settlers of Campbell Bay and visitor’s appointment at Raj Niwas from 1600 to 1800 hours followed by meeting with Tribals (Andamanese) Govt. Employees of A&N Police/Administration and Teachers and Govt. officials associated with Jarawa Tribe etc at Raj Niwas. He will address a press meet at Raj Niwas at 1900 hours.
Before leaving for mainland on completion of his visit to the islands, the Union Home Minister will visit Sipighat to see the submerged lands and drive along the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) before returning.
Leave a Reply