New Delhi, Dec 16: Government has decided to issue multipurpose identity cards to about 29 lakh people in selected areas of 13 border and coastal states, including Jammu and Kashmir, by March 31 next year as part of the exercise to strengthen security, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani said today. It has been decided to implement the multipurpose national identity card project by this fiscal in selected areas in the states and union territories to strengthen security along India's 15,126 km border and 5,422 km long coastline, he said addressing the parliamentary consultative committee meeting attached to the home ministry.
Following recommendations of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on security, a separate division on border management has been created in the ministry for focussed attention on border security related issues, Advani said.
The meeting was briefed through a detailed presentation on the specific issues pertaining to India's borders with Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan and China.
Apprising MPs on the ground situation in these areas, Advani said the recommendations of the GoM had been accepted by the government and were currently under implementation. Bureau Report