Governor MC Bhandare enrols himself as first citizen of Orissa by his fingers scan, iris scan and digital photograph in the UID number project which launched on Monday by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) at Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, May 9: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) today launched a Unique Identification (UID) number project called Aadhaar in Orissa through which all residents above the age group of one year shall be enrolled and given an identification number.

During a ceremony at Raj Bhavan, governor M.C. Bhandare was enrolled under the project and presented with Aadhaar.

Aadhaar, a project the government described as the “number for life”, promised a dignified life to the poor in the country. Once implemented, this scheme is expected to change the social service deliveries landscape forever wherein all residents shall be identified through capture of essential demographics and biometrics such as finger scan, iris scan and digital photograph.

The database of all residents of India will be linked with central and state government schemes which would provide benefit to all residents, especially those living below poverty line, by identifying and bringing them into the broader umbrella of various government plans.

Bhandare said: “The Aadhaar unique identification number will enable inclusive growth and development for the deprived and empower the people of India to take full benefits from the welfare schemes, in due course becoming a tool of development and social inclusion.”

“Aadhaar number will be helpful in opening a bank account, passport and ration card and many other things, especially for the poor and the migrant labourers, apart from providing a zero-balance bank account to the unbanked residents under the financial inclusion plan of the Reserve Bank of India,” said C.H. Narasimha Rao, chief general manager of State Bank of India, Orissa.

Unique identification project was initially conceived by the planning commission as an initiative that would provide identification for each resident across the country and would be used primarily as the basis for efficient delivery of welfare services. It would also act as a tool for effective monitoring of various government programmes and schemes. The UID cards will help people in getting essential services such as PDS, bank account, LPG connection and jobs in new places.

The UIDAI has authorised the SBI as the registrar for Orissa and one Smart Chip Limited as the enrolment agency along with other agencies. The Smart Chip Limited is also a partner of GoO and has implemented a highly successful smart card project in the transport department of Orissa, apart from being one of leading enrolment agencies under the Aadhaar scheme.