Kerala expected to complete UID project first

KOCHI: With March 31 deadline set by the state drawing near, UID enrolment and generation of Aadhar cards is picking momentum.The work is moving at a satisfactory pace. Emails and SMSes are being sent regarding the UID number. Once the server-problem is sorted out, we’ll maximise the process, said A Shajahan, director, Kerala State IT Mission.The agencies are striving hard to meet the 100 percent enrolment target and UID generation by March-end, he said. Among the agencies, Akshaya has completed almost 75 percent of the work. “So far 2.9 lakh UIDs have been generated. We have 1,500 certified operators and 700 enrolment teams. We have completed more than 16 lakh enrolments and do about 50,000 enrolments per day,” said K V Thomas, Director, Akshaya.While Akshaya is taking up UID enrolment in rural areas, Keltron is handling the urban areas. “We have 5 lakh enrolments. The process didn’t pick up initially due to the hurdles in setting up centres and locating spots. We have 57 centres and will be setting up 23 more,” said Nandini, General Manager, Keltron.  Altogether, from various agencies including banks and post offices, 24 lakh enrolments have been completed and 4 lakh UIDs generated. The process is progressing fast and since the population is smaller compared to other states, Kerala is likely to be the first to complete the UID project in the state, said Surendra Babu, Assistant Director-General, Unique Identification Authority of India, Regional Office, Bangalore. To speed up the process, some municipal chairpersons have requested Akshaya to conduct UID enrolments in their respective municipalities, according to sources.“There’s no zonal restrictions.  The agencies can coordinate and do the enrolments wherever they like in the particular state. Kerala is doing well and the project which has four-year time limit is likely to be completed by August 2012,” said Surendra Babu. The UID project launched in February this year was way behind other states due to an issue over the proprietary software used by the UIDAI. Anyone can enrol from any of the enrolling centres spread across the country.