e-Payment system for NREGA workers soon
July 23, 2008, iGovernment
The NREGA programme has been a boon to a large number of rural households in terms of providing employment for a significant portion of the year. However, it has been plagued by inefficiency in various areas, not the least in the actual disbursement of payment for work done. This is set to significantly improve for the better by the adoption of information technology for wage payment. Under a project being jointly developed by BSNL and NIC, each person employed in this scheme will have a smart card and an account in the local post office. Funds will be electronically deposited in the post office and the person can use the smart card to withdraw money. This will be a significant step forward in ensuring the real beneficiaries of the NREGA scheme are not deprived of their wages and will help in breaking the cycle of poverty for a large section of the rural population.