Jammu, Apr 22: The implementation of ambitious National Population Register (NPR) project which recently received the state cabinet nod has been taken up on war footing in Jammu and Kashmir as the Centre has entrusted the job of issuance of Smart Cards having basic details of an individual along with Unique Pan India number to department of Census Operations, Government of India.
 Sources said that the ambitious project of issuance of Smart Cards under National Population Register (NPR) was likely to be completed soon as the process of data digitization is going on war footing after converting basic data in Tiff images was completed.
 “The digitization process in 7-8 districts of the state is completed and the next phase of holding camps for Bio-metric data-collection will start any time as Headquarters Census Operations has initiated ‘Tendering process’ in this regard” sources added.
 The National Population Register (NPR) project in the state of Jammu and Kashmir is running behind the schedule, because of uncertainty about the executing agency as for long centre was unable to decide between the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and Census General of India, to take up the project. Finally it was decided that Census department would undertake the exercise in the state. Physical terrain and social situation also contributed in its delay.
 Pertinently Bio-metric-data include digital photograph, biometric signature (finger prints), and iris of both eyes. As per sources, for this process three machines are required - one for finger prints, one for iris and one main machine for other details that has the capacity of covering 70 persons in a day.
 Joint Director Census Operations Jammu C S Sapru, told Greater Kashmir that the project was expected to be completed in about 3 months. He added that in those areas where data digitization is completed, the process of Bio-metric-data collection will conducted by organizing camps on local level under supervision of concerned Tehsildars. He informed that the process of data digitization in left out areas was also going on war footing.
 Sapru further said that Census staff of the state, with active support from the local administration, would organize camps in every nook and corner of the state for data collection of the residents above 5 years of age. In Bio-metric-data-collection, preference would be hilly and inaccessible areas, so that before onset of harsh weather conditions, the process was completed.
 He also informed that before issuing Smart Cards, a final revision exercise will also be organized to remove discrepancies in Bio-metric-data, if any.
 It is pertinent to mention here that the NPR is created under the Citizenship Act, 1955 and Citizenship Rules (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards), 2003. NPR would also serve the requirement of enhancing the internal security of the country apart from sprucing up tax collection and targeting welfare schemes better in areas like education, rural development health and social security.
 Presently NPR project is going on in 19 states and 2 Union Territories. NPR comprises of two major components viz Digitization of demographic data captured during house listing operation in 2010 and collection of biometric data and tender for ‘Demographic Data Digitization was allotted to DOEACC (now NIELIT Sgr/Jmu).
 Under first phase it will cover population of 62.2 crores. Out of this population 49.1 crores is rural population and 13.1 crores urban population.

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