The Election Commission
has issued 421,539,200 Electors’ Photo Identity Cards(EPICs) out
of a total electors of 638,960,936 in the country as on date.
This comes to 65.97 per cent of the total voters.
This excludes the
State of Assam where the issue of EPIC programme is not underway
currently, although it has been extended to the State. There are
disputes regarding illegal immigration and citizenship.
The Election Commission
has endeavoured to use EPICs progressively in future elections,
Towards that end , it has instructed the Chief Electoral Officers
to start necessary campaign in the States and Union Territories.
The Commission has given highest priority to increase the coverage
of electors with EPICs where elections are due in the near future.
The Commission has
been monitoring and reviewing the programme of EPICs continuously
in all the States and Union Territories.
The EPICs were first
introduced in 1992-93 under the stewardship of Shri T.N.Shesan.
