The Aadhaar project to give Unique Identity Number or UID to every citizen was officially launched in the city on Monday. In Tamil Nadu, Indian Overseas Bank has signed up as one of the registrars for the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
Speaking at the launch of a pilot project for registration of UID at IOB, Cathedral branch on Anna Salai, Ashok Dalwai, Deputy Director General, UIDAI, said 34 PSUs, including banks and LIC, are involved in the nationwide project.
In Tamil Nadu, IOB, State Bank of India and Indian Bank have signed an MoU to carry forward the project. “We want more financial institutions to come forward as the project involves technological, logistical and management challenges,” he added. Nearly 3.5 million numbers have been enrolled since the UID was launched in August 2010, Mr. Dalwai said.
Focus on quality
He said that the USP of the project is its focus on quality. Speed and cost-effectiveness are other aims of the project as part of which “we are looking for financial and other forms of inclusion that would boost growth,” he added.
M. Narendra, Chairman and Managing Director, IOB, said the bank plans to enrol 50,000 people for the UID. “We would cover places where we have a good reach,” he said.
According to a press release, registration for UID will take place in select branches of IOB. To start with, IOB Periyar Nagar (Agaram) and Indira Nagar branch will start the enrolment process.
On the occasion, D. Rajkumar Immanuel, Joint Managing Director, Tamilnadu Transport Development Finance Corporation Ltd., was the first customer to get the biometric identification card. Senior executives from the bank were present.
