Biometric listing to begin in City on Monday

KOCHI: The biometric registration of Kochiites for Unique Identification Number (Aadhaar) project will begin on Monday. Excise Minister K Babu will inaugurate the function to be held in this regard at the District Panchayat Hall in   Kakkanad.Unlike the Voters ID, PAN Card and Ration Card, the Aadhaar can be used for more than one purpose. The Unique Identification Number is expected to reduce impersonation cases as it help identify a citizen easily. After its implementation, bank accounts based on the 12-digit number will be used to give away government benefits. This will help to restrict benefits to the undeserved. Aadhaar will also address the issues of expatriates. The number, which will be given to each citizen, will be stored in a centralised database. It will be linked to the  basic demographics and biometric information - photograph, 10 fingerprints and iris - of each person. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDI) has enrolled registrars all around the country, who will make their services available through enrolment agencies.  In Kerala, the state government will be the registrar and its   IT undertaking Akshaya will be the enrolment agency.Those who do not have any identification document can also obtain Aadhaar, provided it is certified by the local-self  government representatives concerned.