PUDUCHERRY: The Unique Identification Number (UIN), also known as ‘Aadhar’, will not remain so unique after all, defeating, in fact, the very purpose for which it was created, given that both the Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and the Census Operations are going ahead and generating UINs simultaneously. The Department of Civil Supplies had already started the generation of ‘Aadhar’ data for Aadhar-enabled smart cards for the Public Distribution System (ration cards) from January 24, to cover 11.52 lakh citizens in all four regions of the UT.It had already covered 1.5 lakh population till date by capturing the data (via photography, finger biometry and iris), according to collector G Ragesh Chandra. However, now a similar exercise is being undertaken by the Census Operations for creation of the National Population Register (NPR) and issuance of Unique Identity Cards. With regard to the latter, work commenced at Bahour village of Bahour taluk on Friday (May 27). In a statement, director of Census Operations, Haje Kojeen, has requested the people to cooperate and participate in capturing the data and ensure success of creation of the NPR. Now, not only would this entail duplication of data and waste of public funds but it would also lead to all kinds of problems. For one, those whose Aadhar enrolment is done under NPR prior to that of the civil supplies department may not get ration cards, as the latter might not be able to generate a UIN again.It is not clear whether the Aadhar data generated by both would be shared or not, said Ragesh Chandra , who is the civil supplies secretary as well as the district registrar for Census Operations for Puducherry district comprising Puducherry, Mahe and Yanam. “It will have to be sorted out by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI),” he told Express. “We have written to UIDAI to clear up the matter,” he informed. UIDAI is an agency of the government of India responsible for implementing the envisioned multipurpose National Identity Card or Unique Identification Card (UID Card) project in India. It was established in February 2009 and will own and operate the Unique Identification Number database. The authority will aim at providing a unique number to all Indians, but not smart cards.
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