Target to enroll 600 mn under Aadhaar by 2014: Govt

The 'Aadhaar' project of the Unique Identification Authority of India has a target to enroll 600 million citizens by 2014 and over 46 million enrollments have already been done, Parliament was informed today.     

"The target is to achieve 600 million enrollments by 2014... As on August 11, 2011, more than 46 million Aadhaar enrolments have been done," Minister of State for Planning Ashwani Kumar said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.     

He said that department of Posts is one of the registrars of the UIDAI for the enrollment of residents.     

UIDAI, headed by Nandan Nilkeni, has been mandated by the government to issue a unique identification number -- 'Aadhaar'. It can be verified and authenticated in an online platform in a cost effective manner and will eliminate duplicate and fake identities.     

The programme was initially conceived by the Planning Commission in 2006 as an initiative that would provide identification to each Indian resident and would be primarily used as the basis of efficient delivery of welfare services.     

It would also act as a tool for effective monitoring of various programmes and schemes of the government.     

Senior government officials have said that the number is likely to be a mandatory criterion for availing certain services like LPG connection.