TARGET DATE FOR ELECTORS' PHOTO IDENTITY CARDS
RAJYA SABHA
The Election Commission
has informed that the Photo Identity Cards are being issued only
to that part of the population which is eligible to exercise their
franchise that is over 18 years of age as on 1st January
of the relevant year and whose names figure on the Electoral Rolls.
The registration of electors is continuous process. Therefore,
the scheme of issue of electors’ Photo Identity Cards to the registered
electors will necessarily be a continuous programme for completion
of which no time limit can be fixed.
According to the
Election Commission, at present there is no State which has achieved
hundred per cent coverage in providing Electors’ Photo Identity
Cards. However, some of the States have made substantial progress
and achieved 80 per cent coverage in providing Electors’ Photo
Identity Cards. So far, out of a total electorate of 635,929,142,
the number of Electors’ Photo Identity Cards issued in 409,609,110,
which comes to 64.41 per cent of the national average.
The Election Commission
has informed that it is making efforts for providing Electors’
Identity Cards to all electors. It has issued necessary orders
to the States which have not made substantial progress. It has
directed these States to immediately take appropriate steps for
identifying agencies and awarding of contracts with clear directions
for completing the work of preparation and issue of Electors’
Photo Identity Cards to all electors before December 31, 2002.
The Commission has also asked for further Action Plan for preparation
and issue of Electors’ Photo Identity Cards from those States
which have made substantial progress but could not reach the coverage
of issuing of these cards to at least 85 per cent of total electorate.
This information
was given by the Union Minister of Law and Justice Shri K. Jana
Krishnamurthi in a written reply to a question from Shri C. Ramachandraiah
in the Rajya Sabha today.
