Nandurbar (Maharashtra), Sep 29 (IANS) Residents of Tembli village in Nandurbar district of Maharashtra became the first recepients of the Unique Identification Numbers when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi handed these out Wednesday.

As the gathering of villagers cheered and applauded, Ranjana Sonawane became the first in the country to receive the Unique Identification Number (UID) card at a ceremony.

Later, the prime minister and Sonia Gandhi handed over these cards - called 'Aadhar' - to Ranjana's son and a dozen other villagers from among a crowd that had gathered here for the historic occasion. The UID scheme, by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), will be implemented nationwide.

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said it was a matter of pride for Nandurbar and Maharashtra that a prestigious national scheme was being first implemented there.

The UIDAI scheme was announced in July 2009 will provide an "unique identity to each of the over one billion Indian citizens over the next five years".

After a person is allotted an UID number, his/her identity linked to biometrics would be established to uniquely identify the person.

The UID number would authenticate the identity claim of a person and would have wide-ranging applications during the person's lifetime.

Earlier, several hundred villagers from this traditional Congress bastion accorded a rousing reception to Manmohan Singh and Gandhi with dances, songs and music in the presence of a huge media contingent.

Present on the occasion were Governor K. Sankaranarayanan, Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman M.S. Ahluwalia and Nandan Nilekani, who heads the UIDAI.