Guwahati, Sept. 1: The process of collection of biometric data for Aadhaar card will begin in Assam from December 1.

Aadhaar is a 12-digit number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to all citizens.

The general administration department announced the rollout during a review meeting of the budget announcement implementation status of GAD, secretariat administration department, judicial and legislative departments chaired by chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal here today.

Assam and Jammu and Kashmir are the two remaining states where Aadhaar enrolment has not been carried out.

The enrolment process was carried out in three districts - Golaghat, Nagaon and Sonitpur - as a pilot project but not extended on the apprehension that illegal migrants might acquire Aadhaar cards and present it as proof of citizenship. The whole process will be completed within a year.

The BJP-led government, however, decided in May to start the enrolment process for Aadhaar number after the Centre made it clear that it neither confers citizenship nor is a proof of citizenship.

Sonowal said local vendors should be engaged in data collection for Aadhaar and they should be given an opportunity to provide employment to youths through the whole process that entails an expenditure of Rs 160 crore for providing Aadhaar cards to 3.18 crore people.

Sonowal said Aadhaar would benefit students going to study outside the state where it is mandatory for admission into educational institutes and asked the general administration department to ensure completion of the process within a year.

He asked the department to undertake massive awareness campaigns through street plays and short films for making people aware of the importance of Aadhaar card.

The chief minister also directed the secretariat administration department to identify land on a priority basis for construction of a mini secretariat in Barak Valley and train officials and staff of Assam Bhawans to make them people-friendly.

He asked the department to provide food at nominal rates to people staying at the Bhawans and construction of naamghars at all such facilities on the lines of that in Calcutta.

Sonowal said advertisement for 399 vacant posts at Janata Bhawan has been put out while asking the judicial department to urgently fill up 200 vacant notary posts.

The chief minister also reviewed the status of fast-track courts to be set up at Tinsukia, Hojai and Silchar and directed the department to take action for setting up judicial courts in the newly formed districts. He also asked the department to suggest ways for upgrading the curriculum in law colleges in the state to bring them on par with the best law colleges in the country.

Principal secretary to the chief minister, Sanjay Lohia, principal secretary (finance) Ravi Kota, commissioner and secretary, secretariat administration department, Ahmed Hussein, and GAD joint secretary Ranjan Chakrabarti, among others, were present.