Dept of posts offers to verify citizens' data for unique ID project

NEW DELHI: The department of posts has offered its help to the Unique Identification Database Authority of India (UIDAI) in verifying the data of citizens that will help the authority issue unique identification numbers to Indian residents.

The department has a huge database of over 20 crore savings bank account holders all over the country. This would come in handy when UIDAI starts the citizen verification process, especially in rural areas.

���The department of posts is interested in being the ���enroller��� for the UIDAI. Enrollers would authenticate data provided by registrars as per UID norms,��� a government official said.

���The discussions are at a preliminary stage. More talks are likely to be held before the plans are implemented,��� the official said requesting anonymity.

The postal department has shown interest in acting as a platform to ���authenticate��� the citizens to whom the unique number will be given. It has already made a presentation in this regard before UIDAI chairman Nandan Nilekani.

As per the initial rollout plan for providing unique identification numbers, the UIDAI would first appoint registrars who would take up the herculean task of collecting data of all Indian residents. Registrars could be state governments, the Election Commission of India, ration shops, oil companies, telecom companies or even post offices.

���The department of posts can play an important role in the UID project as we have a strong network, especially in rural areas,��� the official said.

The UID project plans to create unique identification numbers for all Indians by 2011. The identification number will primarily help to ���authenticate��� an individual in the country and will be issued to Indian residents on a voluntary basis.

The unique identification numbers will eliminate the need for existing identification cards such as electoral card, ration card, driving licence, passport and PAN card as the cards issued under the scheme will carry all the required details, including the biometric details of all Indian citizens.