The cabinet committee on Unique Identification Authority of India related issues (CC-UIDAI) headed by the prime minister, Manmohan Singh today, agreed that the enrolments under the UIDAI scheme and national population register (NPR) should be proceeded simultaneously. 

 

The cabinet committee took note that the purposes of UIDAI and NPR are different and therefore the enrolments should proceed under both the initiatives. 

 

The committee gave a go ahead to the Nandan Nilekani-led UID authority to enrol additional 40 crore residents beyond 20 crore already enrolled. The committee observed that in the states, where UIDAI has enrolled substantial number of residents the enrolments through non-RGI registrars will move at full speed within the ceiling of 60 crore (20 crore + 40 crore).  It also pointed out that in the case where state/UT governments have given commitments for Aadhaar enrolments and are planning to integrate Aadhaar with various service delivery applications enrolments in such states will also continue. A suggested list of States/UTs was also approved by CC-UIDAI based on above two criteria. 

 

The committee also approved that the NPR enrolment will continue as envisaged, but in case of a person who is already enrolled for Aadhaar, the biometric data will not be captured by the NPR. Instead, the Aadhaar number/enrolment number will be recorded in NPR and the biometric data will be sourced from the UIDAI. 

 

Further detailed protocols between the two initiatives will be worked out by inter ministerial coordination Committee (IMCC) already constituted by the ministry of home affairs. The financial proposal relating to Aadhaar enrolments of additional 40 crore will be separately placed before the expenditure finance committee (EFC) and accordingly provisions will be made in the budget for 2012-13. 

 

The additional cost for enrolment and logistics pertaining to printing and delivery of Aadhaar letters in respect of the 40 crore additional enrolments will be brought before the EFC for their recommendation and to the CC-UIDAI for approval. 

 

The UID project is primarily aimed at ensuring inclusive growth by providing a form of identity to those who do not have any identity. It seeks to provide UID numbers to the marginalised sections of the society and thus would strengthen equity. Apart from providing identity, the UID will enable better delivery of services and effective governance.