The second phase of Unique Identification Number (UID) project in the state has been deferred by over two months because of the backlog in dispatching Aadhaar cards to applicants who had been enrolled in the first phase.

Of the 19 lakh successful enrolments for UID cards in the state, 14 lakh have been dispatched by the Bihar circle of India Post so far. While altogether 64 agencies were involved in the enrolment for the UID cards in the first phase, the Bihar circle of India Post is the sole authority responsible for dispatching the cards.

“Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has asked India Post to clear the backlog in the delivery of the cards by the end of next month. Subsequently, the Bihar circle would also be required to deliver the remaining five-lakh UID cards by then. While UIDAI has launched the second phase of enrolment for UID cards in states such as Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh, the corresponding process in Bihar would commence only after the backlog is cleared,” Anil Kumar, the director of business development, technology and marketing, General Post Office (GPO), Patna told The Telegraph on Tuesday.

Several residents of the state capital have recently received their UID cards. “I had applied for Aadhaar card in October last year and got it delivered last month. Despite being an old man, I took all the pain and applied for the card by standing in long queues at Patna, GPO. I am glad that I have received the card, finally,” Nagendra Prasad Shrivastva, an 82-year-old resident of SK Nagar, said.

UID — a 12-digit individual identification number — is a scheme aimed to provide a universal identity for an individual, which would be utilised for over 600 services in India in due course of time.

The Government of Bihar entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with UIDAI on August 20, 2010. Anil said the first phase of enrolment for UID cards in Bihar started from July 25, 2011 and ended on February 15, 2012.