Rajesh Kumar Behera, Kendrapara, India
The National Population Register (NPR) survey of infiltration-hit coastal villages in Kendrapara has come to a halt due to the bureaucratic red-tapism. Though the head-count operation has already been completed , but the photography, date entry and finger-print biometric work to issue identity cards is yet to be commenced in the infiltration prone district of Kendrapara. The Electronic Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), entrusted to carry out photography and related technical job, is lagging far behind in the National Population Registered project, added officials. As many as 227 officials were entrusted to finish the enumeration job in 97 villages of coastal tehsils. They have enlisted each and every households of the coastal villages of the district.. We have completed the ground-level work. Now it’s up to the ECIL to take up the skilled works like photography and fingerprint biometric in enumerated coastal zones, ,added official sources. It may be noted here that the deadline for NPR project was scheduled on 10th January 2010. As the project is of immense national importance, we are laying emphasis on its timely completion. We have apprised the census operation directorate of the delay. A request has also been made to dispatch data-entry teams for early completion of the project, added official sources. According to official sources, the enumeration drive has been completed in 55 coastal villages of Rajnagar and 42 villages of Mahakalapada tehsils . Notably, Rajnagar and Mahakalpada tehsils are stated to be the hub of illegal Bangladesh settlers. About 1,677 Bangladeshi infiltrators live in these areas as per official survey, while unofficial statistics put the number at more than 50,000. This unique national identity number will be assigned to each individual including those below 18-years of age. A chip will be fitted in the Electronics Identity Card in order to record all the information of the coastal people. The electronic Identity Card will carry the name, age, address, birth place, occupation, qualification, land records and other important information of the person along with the person’s criminal activities . As several coasts of the country ,including weak coastal state of Orissa is one of the vulnerable point regarding unabated exodus of Bangaldeshi immigrants round the year,are not well secured ,the union government has directed to the administrative officials of the coastal districts to provide Electronics Identity Card to the coastal villagers of the state after the 26/11 Mumbai attack. Notably, the district administrations of the coastal districts have earlier decided to issue electronic identity cards to all the coastal people of the state within 2011.
