No biometric cards even three years after 26/11

No biometric cards even three years after 26/11
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Nov 10, 2011: Biometric identity cards for fishermen as part of beefing up coastal security have turned out to be a farce. The scheme for issuing biometric identity cards for fishermen in the state has been launched as part of a directive by the Ministry of Home Affairs' to keep vigil along the coasts in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 2008.
Fisheries department is still sitting on the process of issuing these cards even after three years of deadly Mumbai 26/11 terror attack happened. Three deadlines by the state fisheries department was ignored by the local officials and the result is that no fishermen was issued these cards due to which surveillance teams guarding Vizag coastline are facing it difficult to keep a tab on fishermen.
It is worth to be noted here that 26/11 terrorists have gained entry into Indian territory at Mumbai through sea reportedly in fishing boats and also in the guise of fishermen. Fisheries department identified around 30,000 fishermen along Vizag coastline to issue these cards. Till date, local officials have not provided biometric cards to even a single fisherman, despite several Intelligence warnings of a similar type of attack and east coast being very vulnerable to terror infiltration.
Vizag has been always under terror radar due to presence of Eastern Naval Command head quarters and other strategic security establishments. “We have voluntarily attended the camps conducted by fisheries department several times earlier. Most of the fishermen at Vizag harbour furnished all their details long back. I don’t know why there is a delay in issuing cards,” said AP mechanised fishing boats operators association, president Appa Rao.
Job of issuing bio metric cards was entrusted to fisheries department immediately after 26/11 terror attack that happened in 2008. State office set a deadline of August in 2009 to finish the process and issue cards. Later deadline was extended to October but and then the whole year 2010 passed not even a single card was issued.
“I agree there are some gaps and that’s because of logistics problem. We have identified 30,000 fishermen along the Vizag coastline to issue these cards. But until now we could collect details like photos, signatures and finger prints of only about 24,000 fishermen. Cards would be immediately issued after details of the remaining fishermen are collected which will be done very soon,” said fisheries department assistant director Swarna Kumari. “Sometimes we see some unknown faces in deep sea when we go out for fishing. Cards would definitely help identifying local fishermen and restrict outsiders. Sometimes outsiders may pose threat” said a fishermen requesting anonymity.
The Coast Guard and other law enforcement agencies such as the marine police are to be given card readers that can read these biometric cards. “These biometric cards would definitely help us in identifying who are local fishermen. I don’t know why there is a delay in issuing these cards,” said Marine CI at Rushikonda Appa Rao.