Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI) and Jharkhand government signed a MoU today to provide unique numbers which would benefit among others beneficiaries of welfare schemes, helping them to ward off duplication in financial transactions.

The MoU was signed by UIDAI deputy director N K Sinha and state Information and Technology secretary A P Singh in the presence of UIDAI Director General R S Sharma and Jharkhand governor's adviser V S Dubey here.

"It is a part of financial inclusion (of the people) which will be inter-operatable and ensure no duplication. It will benefit financial transactions by giving them choice of banks across the country," Sharma said.

Finger prints and photo of the iris of the eye would be taken to establish one's identity, he said.

"A letter of UIDAI carrying number will be given," Sharma said.

Enrolment and distribution of the first set of numbers would start between August 2010 and February 2011, Sharma said adding Rs 19 crore has been earmarked till February next year for this task.

The process would benefit beneficiaries of welfare schemes like old-age pension and NREGA, enabling them to draw money from anywhere as several blocks in Jharkhand have no branches of any bank and would save them from traveling to distant places for collecting money.