A massive exercise to update the existing National Population Register (NPR) database has commenced in the Union Territory (UT) of Puducherry.
Explaining the objectives of the exercise, Revenue Secretary V. Candavelou said the Union Government and Registrar General of India, have identified Puducherry as one among the UTs to commence the exercise. The enumerators will verify details of residents and also incorporate the Aadhaar number in the database by conducting a house-to-house verification.
The exercise also aims at inclusion of new residents and households. Government officials who have been appointed as enumerators on Friday commenced collection of information relating to the locals The field enumeration will go on until August 30.
Originally the Union Government decided to create a National Population Register (NPR) of all the ‘usual residents’ in the country as a first step towards creation of a National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC). The NPR is also envisaged to be a comprehensive electronic database of all usual residents containing 15 fields of demographic data, the biometrics, finger prints and iris prints.
During 2011, NPR survey was carried out in the UT and the particulars relating to each family and individual were collected through house-to-house enumeration.
The electronic database of the usual residents of the UT have been created in English and regional languages.
The survey revealed that UT of Puducherry has 12.44 lakh population. Biometrics of the residents were also collected by Unique Identification Authority of India - Aadhaar. 95. 80 per cent of population were given Aadhaar cards.
“The head of the family or any other responsible individual of the family is required to give the correct information and particulars including Aadhaar Number to the visiting enumerator. Non-cooperation to assist the officials in collection of information and furnishing incorrect information will attract penal action under Rule 17 of Citizenship Rules,2003, said Dr. Candavelou while adding that this updation will have major implication in extending services to the public.
The officials also said the residents who were the left out in the exercise will have to approach permanent enrolment centres for updation after August 30.
