Agartala, Dec 2 (IANS) Aadhaar, a 12-digit identity number to be issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) for all Indian residents, was formally launched in the northeastern state of Tripura Thursday.

Tripura is the first state in the northeast and the eighth in India where Aadhaar has been launched, according to officials here.

Jitendra Chowdhury, Tripura's minister for rural development, industries and commerce, formally commenced Aadhaar, that means 'foundation' or 'support', at a public function in southern Tripura's Sabroom, 135 km south of here.

"By March 2011, the enrolment of all residents of Tripura would be completed. Then, they would get the Aadhaar number directly from the UIDAI," Tripura rural development department commissioner Kumar Alok told IANS.

"The quality and speed of lots of government programmes and issue of official documents to people would be improved through this Aadhaar number. People's harassment in getting governmental facilities and services will also be reduced," said Alok, an engineer turned Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.

According to the official, the Aadhaar number will be stored in a centralised database and linked to the basic demographics and biometric information, including photograph, 10 fingerprints and iris of each individual.

"As the people live in scattered areas of the mountainous northeastern region, they will be benefited to a large extent in getting governmental facilities and services besides improving their socio-economic condition," Alok said.

"The Aadhaar number and all details of an individual will be easily verifiable in an online and cost-effective way," he added.