Aadhaar launched in Tripura, first in N-E region

AGARTALA: Aadhaar, a 12-digit Unique Identification Number ( UID) to be issued to each citizen of the country, has been formally launched in Tripura, the first state in the north eastern region where the project was inaugurated.

State Industries and Commerce Minister Jitendra Chowdhury launched Aadhaar at a function at Sabroom in South Tripura district, about 135 km from here, yesterday.

However, the citizens of Sabroom have to wait for sometime to get the Aadhaar number, to be issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

"We hope the process of enrolment in Tripura would be completed by next year and then the people of the state would be given the Aadhaar number by UIDAI," Chowdhury told media from Sabroom today.

The number will store basic demographics and biometric information of each individual in a central database, officials said. This would help the government launch various programmes.

Tripura is the eighth state in the country to have launched Aadhaar.