'Aadhaar: Target to enrol 600 mn by 2014 on schedule'

Aadhaar,the Unique Identification number concept of the Centre was well on its way to achieving its target of enrolling 600 million people by 2014, with three million already being brought under it, a top official involved said in Coimbatore on Friday.

"Enrollment, which began in September last, with 500 to 1,000 per day has been increased to 10000 per day. More number of booths will be added, increasing the numbers to one million per day by October 2011," Govindaraj Ethiraj, head, Industry Outreach, Unique Identification Authority of India, said.

Addressing the second edition of 'Leadership Summit,' organised by Confede in Coimbatore, he said enrollment was on in 18 states with 400 stations, which would be increased to 4,000 stations in six months.

With more than 200 empanelled agencies,including IT related companies involved in the task, the targeted 600 million enrollment would be easily achieved before 2014,

he said.

"Besides giving an individual infrastructure to the person, Aadhaar would also enable nearly 60 per cent of the rural and urban poor population to open a no frills account in banks, thus bringing them under financial inclusion," he said.

Being a continuous process, Aadhaar, a 12 digit number with biometric attachment, however, would not be a substitute to passports or any other documents, Govindaraj said.

He also said this potable identity could play a major role in delivering services at reduced cost, particularly schemes like insurance, health and education sectors being implemented by the Centre.