The government can create a household ID card in concurrence with the national ID card for individuals constituting the household, the Economic Survey 2008-09 said.
The pre-budget document which is tabled in the Parliament on Thursday by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said," A
household ID (HHID) could be created simultaneously or in parallel by linking it to a set of Unique Identification numbers (UID) of individuals constituting the household."
These ID cards would form the base of a multi-application smart cards system that can be used to empower the poor and ensure that they get full benefit of all programmes such as NREGA, PDS, biblically provided education, skill development, heath services, social security and fertiliser subsidy etc, it added.
The government has already set in motion the process of providing a unique identification number to every Indian citizen and has appointed Infosys Technologies co-chairman Nandan Nilekani as head of the project.
The necessity for a centrally issued ID was accentuated by the growing problems of illegal immigrants in various parts of the country. However, the events of November 26 in Mumbai accelerated the setting up of the UIDAI.
The identification would act as a check against illegal immigration into the country as it is a serious threat to national security.