DESM&E bags Aadhaar Excellence Award 2011

GANGTOK, 13 Oct: On the occasion of the first anniversary of UID enrollment, the Unique Identification Authority of India set up under the National Planning Commission, felicitated a number of states and enrolment agencies for their commendable performance relating to Aadhaar or UID number. Sikkim was also one amongst the few who made the list and was awarded the Aadhaar Excellence Award 2011 by the Government of India in appreciation of its commendable performance for Aadhaar Enrolments, informs a press release.
The Aadhaar Excellence Award was conferred on DESM&E on 30 Sept in Guwahati.  Project Coordinator, UID Programme, Thupten Geleg, represented the department to receive the excellence award on its behalf. On the occasion, UIDAI also felicitated five operators namely Dawgay Lepcha, Rekha Sharma, Mukesh Pradhan, Bimla Chettri and Sommaya Tamang for their performance, the release informs.
UID programme is a flagship programme of Government of India which is intended to revolutionize governance in India and Government of Sikkim had signed a memorandum of understanding with UIDAI to implement the programme in the State. To implement the programme DESM&E has been declared as the Nodal Agency-cum-Registrar.
According to the release, Director General, DESM&E, S D Tshering stated that the recognition bestowed by GOI has added to the long list of such awards that various departments and the State Government has received for good governance and for its efforts to improve the condition of its citizens. He said that the award is also a reflection of the administrative acumen and quality of data collected and compiled that has stood the test of the UIDAI, Planning Commission and it is also noteworthy that for the very first time in the history of the department, it is being felicitated by such a high body.
He further added that the UID programme is a collective effort and the credit for the excellence award goes to all the officials of the departments, district level officers including the District Magistrates, SDMs, Block Development Officers and especially the Panchayats and Councilors  who have played a pivotal role in the enrollment of residents. 
In Sikkim, the UID programme kick-started on 01 March, 2011 with the enrollment of the Chief Minister and since then more than 2.5 lakh residents have been enrolled. At the all India level, Aadhaar was formally launched on 29 Sept, 2010 at Nandurbar, Maharashtra by the Prime Minister and the UPA Chairperson.  Thus far, more than 10 crores residents have been enrolled in the country, the release informs.
The Government of Sikkim has attached highest priority to the UID programme and has notified  UID number to be included in all resident/identity  based schemes of the State as well as Central government. At the same time, all identity based business processes will be required to include UID number in the future.
Further, an Implementation Committee under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary with Director General, DESM&E as the Member Secretary-cum-Nodal Officer has been set up to implement the programme, the release mentions.