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Chennai, January 24th
: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today launched the Resident Identity (Smart) cards in the coastal village of Pattipulam, about 50 km from here.The small village have thus achieved the unique statues of being the first coastal village in the country (main land) to have received these smart cards under the scheme of National Population Register. Speaking on the occassion, he said "these cards will help determine who is a resident, who is a citizen and who is a foreigner."The scheme costing Rs 216.31 crore envisages collection of data from individuals in coastal areas and issue of smart cards to all residents above 18 years of age. In all, 3331 coastal villages were covered in the first phase in nine maritime states and four Union Territories. Demographic data collection of 1.2 crore persons and biometrics of 75 lakh persons has been completed.
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