By IANS,
New Delhi : About 120,000 residents of 3,331 coastal villages will be given identity cards in the first phase of a scheme that will eventually cover the entire country, the Rajya Sabha was informed Wednesday.
“In nine states and four union territories, we have identified 3,331 coastal villages where identity cards will be distributed to all usual residents over the age of 18,” Home Minister P. Chidambaram said during question hour while responding to a query on the steps being taken to improve coastal security.
“This will cover about 120,000 people,” he added.
“The decision to issue identity cards to all citizens by 2011 has been advanced for the coastal areas,” the home minister explained.
This apart, there are separate proposals to issue fishermen’s identity cards and similar cards for fishing boats longer than 20 metres, Chidambaram said.
These measures were taken in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks when 10 heavily armed terrorists from Pakistan used the sea route to sneak into India’s financial capital. Over 170 people, including 26 foreigners, were killed in the Nov 26-29, 2008 carnage.
Responding to a supplementary from V. Maitreyan (AIADMK) on whether there was a threat perception to Tamil Nadu capital Chennai from the sea, the home minister said: “We have a very elaborate intelligence network and we share with the states the inputs we get.”
“We have shared inputs with states in the west and with Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu police have taken effective action by increasing patrolling,” Chidambaram added.
Satyavrat Chaturvedi (Congress) attempted to pin the minister down on logic behind first issuing identity cards to the residents of coastal villages but Chidambaram refused to be drawn into a discussion on this.
“We are talking about national security. Terrorist incidents have occurred more in the hinterland than in the coastal areas. What is the logic, what is the rationale for first issuing the identity cards in the coastal areas?” Chaturvedi asked.
Chidambaram replied: “I have no difficulty in answering the question. I will send it to him in writing.”