The 16-digit number, which is ready with the authority, is being kept a closely guarded secret. Even the name of the person who will receive the first number will not be divulged till the last moment.
However, sources told Deccan Herald that the first number to be distributed was randomly generated by the computer.
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), headed by IT czar Nandan Nilekani, entered into a tie up with Andhra Pradesh to launch the scheme after it was impressed with the state’s computerised BPL card system.
Karnataka was very keen to take the credit for launching the scheme and had made all preparations much before Andhra Pradesh.
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had even written to Nilekani expressing the State’s willingness to launch the scheme.
However, since the Centre wanted to give the UID number to the poor on a priority basis, it was particular about the functioning of the BPL system in the state where the scheme will be launched for the first time.
Since Karnataka’s BPL card system is very chaotic––more than 30 per cent of the total 89 lakh card holders are considered bogus––the Centre preferred Congress-ruled Andhra Pradesh for the launch.
Interestingly, the UPA government launched most of its welfare schemes, such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme or the subsided cooking oil distribution scheme for the poor, from Andhra Pradesh.
First phase
During the first phase, the UID will span Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Adilabad, East Godavari, Srikakulam, Chittoor and Anantapur districts of Andhra Pradesh by March 2011, covering 3.5 crore people.
Set up in June 2009, the authority had promised to distribute the first UID number between August 2010 and February 2011, and it planned to issue 600 million UIDs over the next four years.
In Karnataka, Tumkur and Mysore have been selected to conduct the project on a pilot basis. Sources said the distribution of the first UID number will take place in the State either in September or October this year.
DH News Service