E-Governance News: 18/12/09

UNIQUE ID BODY INVITES PROPOSALS FROM CONSULTANTS
New Delhi
The Hindu Business Line

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has invited proposals from consulting firms for services pertaining to the setting up of Central ID Data Repository (CIDR) and selection of managed service provider.

In effect, the move is the first step towards the creation of back-end IT infrastructure for the massive UID project.

The UIDAI has set January 11, 2010 as the last date for submission of the RFP (request for proposal) responses.

The consultancy services would be for designing programme management strategy and implementation roadmap for the UID project; formulating the strategy, business models, and implementation roadmap for the Central ID Data Repository (CIDR); formulating the requirements and specifications for the CIDR; preparing the required RFPs; managing the bid processes; selecting a Managed Service Provider (MSP); and providing project management services for the implementation of the CIDR.

UIDAI will be the regulatory authority controlling the Central ID Data Repository (CIDR). The CIDR will be the central data repository and will function as a managed service provider.

It will implement the core services around the UID – it will store resident records, issue unique identification numbers and verify, authenticate and amend resident data.

UIDAI has said that it will partner with agencies such as Central and State Departments and private sector agencies who will be ‘registrars' to UIDAI. Registrars will process UID applications and connect to the CIDR to de-duplicate resident information and receive UID numbers. These registrars can either be enrollers, or will appoint agencies as enrollers who will interface with people seeking UID numbers.

 

 

HOODA GOVT TO LAUNCH UNIQUE ID INITIATIVE
Chandigarh
The Pioneer  The Financial Express  

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday said his Government would soon set up a body to issue unique identification numbers to the people of Haryana.

While assuring all help of Haryana Government to the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIAI), Hooda said: “A State level unit would function under Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Tourism, Keshni Anand Arora to allot unique identification numbers to the residents of the State.”

Chief Minister Hooda was discussing the issue of allotment of unique identification number with the chairman of Unique Identification Authority of India, Nandan Nilekani here on Thursday.

Nilekani, who has been visiting various States to discuss the issue of unique identification number, expected Haryana to lead in this venture. He said that the UIAI would not allot any card, but unique identification numbers of 16 digits would be allotted to each resident of India.

 

 

ONLINE US VISA PROCESS FROM FEBRUARY 1
Mumbai
Deccan Herald

The US Consulate here today announced that online US visa application process would be launched from February 1 next year.

The measure is aimed at ensuring paperless process while applying for visas, Consular Section chief David Tyler told reporters at the American Center here.

"The applicant would have to fill up visa papers electronically, answer a few questions online and approach the consulate with a print-out of a one-page confirmation with barcode," he said.

The new consulate building at Bandra-Kurla Complex here would be operational in summer next year, Tyler said. The consulate now operates from a leased premises in Breach Candy area.

The number of students from India to the US increased by nine per cent, from 94,563 to 103,260 during 2008-09, Tyler said. China and Korea have the second and third largest students studying in the US, he added.

India is leading for the last eight years in a row, he said, adding that the growth in number of Indian students per year is between five to ten per cent.

There was a slight drop in overall number of visa applicants last year in the backdrop of recession, but the number is picking up, he said.

The number of US visa applications was down by around 10 to 12 per cent worldwide last year, Tyler said. In western India, there was a drop of around 20 per cent, he added.

Security has always been a concern while processing visa applications, the senior diplomat said

 

 

PANEL SETS 1-YR DEADLINE FOR EPFOS TECH PROJECT
New Delhi
The Economic Times (Delhi edition)

Taking note of Employees Provident Fund Organisation's (EPFO) plan to introduce information technology (IT) in handling the grievances mechanism, the standing committee on labour has asked for completion of the project within a year. In its fifth report, the Parliamentary panel further recommended that the system be reviewed by EPFO at regular intervals. The committee suggested that in order to have proper check on functioning of the EPFO fund managers, a yearly appraisal report should be sought from them containing details of the contribution made by the employer, the employee and worker and the interest accumulated on the principal amount.