New Delhi/Dec,1:The Government of India is preparing to grant a “special one-stop identity cards” for all Kashmiris in order to make the surveillance and movements of the citizens easier for security agencies, a media report said on Friday.
According to a report in Daily News and Analysis (DNA) newspaper, similar cards have been already issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs in border areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
“These cards, data of which will be stored online, will include all relevant information and will allow residents not to carry any other identity proof,” the report claimed.
“Almost 100 per cent people in the Valley carry some or the other form of identity proof. The idea is to make things simple with a single card that works as both online and offline identity proof,” the report quoted a government source as saying.
The report further said that in the coastal areas of India similar cards were provided to fishermen soon after the November 26 attacks in India’s commercial capital Mumbai.
“People in Punjab’s border areas have also been given similar cards,” it said.
The report claimed that the proposal was brought during a meeting of officials of the Union HRD ministry and MHA early this month to discuss the implementation strategy of “Revival of education in Kashmir”.
DNA has earlier reported also that Human resource Development Ministry prepared an action plan to revive education that has taken a hit because of violence in Kashmir.
The plan includes revival of schools burnt down in last year uprising, “linking schools there to those in other parts of the country and ensuring teachers’ attendance by giving them smart cards,” the report said.
Quoting the minutes of meeting, the DNA report had said that the smart cards were mentioned during discussions on teacher’s attendance.
“The government is planning to give smart cards to teachers. It was also suggested that in J&K, a hybrid smart card for every citizen could be considered,” the report quoted the document of the meeting.
