Meghalaya likely to be first NE state to get UIN

Shillong, Aug 27 : Meghalaya is likely to be the first state in the north east, considered a critical region due to illegal infiltration, to roll out unique identification number (UIN) cards.

Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang called on the chairman of Unique Identification Authority (UIDA) Nandan Nilekani in Delhi yesterday and urged him to start the exercise from districts bordering Bangladesh, official sources said here today.

The state shares about 443 km of the international border with Bangladesh and is facing problems of infiltration.

Nilekani told Lapang that he was the first chief minister from the region to approach him, but it would take at least 18 months for UIDA to roll out the UINs. Also he would soon be calling on all the chief ministers in a phased manner, the sources said.