Panel concerned over slow progress in I card distribution

NEW DELHI: Observing that progress in issuing biometric identity cards to fishermen in coastal states after 26/11 attacks is "not very satisfactory", a Parliamentary Committee on defence has asked Coast Guard to complete the process in a stipulated timeframe.

The Committee in its report on performance of Coast Guard said only slightly above 30 per cent cards have been issued to identified fishermen.

"16,75,398 fishermen have been identified and data in respect of 10,15,001, which is 64.34 per cent of the total fishermen have been collected. So far the issue of biometric identity cards to the individual is concerned, the Committee note that the position is not very satisfactory," the Committee report said.

Only in Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh more than 30 per cent of the identified fishermen have been issued these identity cards, it added.

"In six states and union territories, the percentage of task completed has been shown as nil and in Karnataka only 1.7 per cent of the task has been completed. In Kerala, which has a large number of fishermen population, only 20.9 per cent of the task has been completed," said the report.

Pulling up Coast Guard for slow progress in registration of fishing boats, the Committee said, "The initiative of registration of boats started in February 2009 and even after passage of more than three years, the Coast Guard which is the nodal organisation, is not even aware of the number of fishing vessels and their status of registration."

Noting that it is "utmost necessary" to complete the task in stipulated time frame, the Committee said, "Identification and registration of boats is the first initiative to monitor and tract the vessels in the sea."