UID drive: only 2.8 lakh registrations so far in dist

The state has meanwhile hit 50 lakh registrations,with nine lakh UID numbers being generated. The UID team is trying its best to meet the 2012 deadline with 3,000 agencies involved in the process. ¿It is a huge task to collect the data. Though we have data from the census drive,we have to get the biometric impressions and iris scans. We need people to come down to the camps in their area. Most people skip this,leading to a delay. We have increased the number of agencies and are trying to reach out to the population,’’ officials said.

It’s mainly administrative delay,regarding forms as well as camps,that has put the programme on the backfoot in Pune. ¿The teams are reaching out but after the census drive,there is a need to raise awareness among the population regarding the drive so that they can be present at their homes for the UID drive,’’ said a collectorate official. In fact,in the rural areas,they are going taluka wise; Maval taluka has been taken up first.

Additional director for UID project for Western Maharashtra,Goa,Daman and Diu Prashant Singh said they were trying hard to speed up the drive. ¿Each enrollment takes time and one needs to be patient and once the date and time are given,15-20 minutes are taken for each candidate for the biometric thumb impression and the iris scan,’’ he said.

After the data collection is over,then there is a tie-up with the India Post to intimate the families to inform the number generated in the central server via post,in which the name,address,the 12-digit number generated and the bar code will be given. ¿This number can be used for all purposes in future and can be laminated as well,’’ Singh said.

Terrasoft,Wipro,Mahaonline and Smartchip are the agencies for Pune. ¿The work is divided among the four agencies as there is a population of 62 lakh to be covered,’’ Smartchip regional manager Jagdish Tambolli said.

Moreshwar Kulkarni,a professional working with Tata Motors and a resident of Bibwewadi,received the UID number last month.