Brief Note under MNIC Pilot Project District Kathua

Multi-purpose National Identity Card (MNIC) pilot project has been launched in our District. Govt. of India has embarked upon a programme of maintaining of National Register of Indian Citizen and issue of MNICs to all citizens at the age of 15 years and above with the purpose of providing credible fool proof individual identification system and its use for various multi-ferious socio-economic benefits and transactions and also to stop and deport illegal immigrants which causes impediments in developing the economy besides threatening the security of country. This process has to be carried out through-out the country, but considering the complexities involved in the process it has been decided to implement pilot project in 13 selected states of the country which also includes our state and Kathua District has been selected for starting the said Project. The system not only envisages preparation of a National Register of Indian Citizen and providing a unique National Identity Number (NIN) to each citizen of the country but also envisages continuous updating of this Register by linking it to the system of registration of births and deaths under the Registration of Births & Deaths Act; 1969 and also account for fresh Registration of Indian Citizens under other provisions of the citizenship Act; 1955. The system also envisages complete computerization and linking of the Registers at the Sub Distt. (Tehsil level), District level and National level. For every area there is a Registrar of Births & Deaths for registering the births and deaths events occurring in the area, all the Registration Units like Municipal Councils, Police Stations, PP In charges have been directed to ensure 100% registration of Births & Deaths and also ensure timely registrations and issue certificate free of cost.

As per implementation methodology, first of all National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) will be prepared on the basis of data collected by conducting house to house enumeration of every individual /citizen pertaining to legal and technical aspects. Legal data relates to the personal detail of the individual and the household while as technical data pertains to obtaining photographs and hand bio-metry. Thus after completing the exercise of preparation of National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC), Multi purpose National Identity Cards (MNIC) based on the entries in the NRIC would be issued to every citizens of age 15 yrs and above.

The National Register of Indian Citizens when prepared would be unique. It will be of great use in providing various services like issue of passports, Driving Licenses, PAN numbers, Service Identity Card, Opening of Bank Accounts, Getting new Ration Cards, issue of SC/ST Certificates, issue of Property documents, issue of Armed Licenses, issue of Domicile Certificates, Permanent Resident Certificates etc.

The MNIC Card will be issued only to those having their name in the National Register of Indian Citizen. Without a MNIC Card, the child is likely to be deprived many benefits and rights he is entitled to as a citizen of India. While registration of Birth and Death records are useful for their legal values to the public, their unique value is as Primary Source of Dynamic Vital Statistics to the Nation. The information on vital statistic is essentially required to the Public Health Planners and Administrators for formulation of various Health Programmes/policies and launching of various Social Welfare Programmes for the benefit of the society. Therefore the registration of Birth and Death is beneficial to the individual/family concern as well as to the Nation as whole. In view of the importance of Registration of Birth and Death to the individual and the nation, it is our duty as a responsible citizen to ensure the registration of every Birth and Death events in order to make our country a modern and a strong nation.

A Total No. of 1089 Enumerators from different departments were deployed against 1122 MNIC Enumeration Blocks.

Permanent MNIC Centres are going to be established at Kathua, Hiranagar, Billawar & Basohli Tehsil HQs.