Why in News?
It has been noticed by the Ministry that some section of the Newspapers has quoted that “Government should stop weaponizing technology, especially Aadhaar to deny the most vulnerable Indians their social welfare benefits, release delay wage payment and implement open muster roll and social audits to improve transparency.”
- In response to these concerns, the ministry has highlighted several technological innovations under the MGNREGA, aiming to enhance transparency and efficiency in its implementation.
What is the MGNREGA Scheme?
- Launched in 2005 by the Ministry of Rural Development
- MGNREGA stands as one of the world’s largest work guarantee programs.
- It provides a legal guarantee and ensure a hundred days of employment of unskilled labor each financial year for adult members of any rural household.
- Participants engage in unskilled manual work like public projects and earn the statutory minimum wage.
- Current Status of MGNREGA:
- There are 14.32 crore registered Job Cards, with 68.22% active Job Cards, and a total of 25.25 crore workers, of which 56.83% are active workers.
Use of Technology in MGNREGA
A. Aadhaar Integration
- Linking an Aadhaar number to a primary bank account number increased authentication of genuine beneficiaries and reduced de-duplication
- Aadhaar seeding of 14.08 crore (98.31%) active workers have been completed. Against these seeded Aadhaar, a total 13.76 crore Aadhaar have been authenticated and 87.52% active workers are now eligible for Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS). APBS is a payment system which use Aadhaar numbers to electronically send government subsidies and benefits to the Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of beneficiaries. If Gram Panchayats facing technical or Aadhaar-related problems may seek exemptions from APBS.
B. National Electronic Fund Management System (NEFMS)
- Introduced in FY 2016-17 for direct wage payments to beneficiaries.
- Over 99% of wage payments are directly credited to beneficiaries’ bank/post office accounts.
C. Real-time Monitoring through National Electronic Fund Management System (NMMS):
- It is an app which captures real-time attendance of beneficiaries at worksites enhancing transparency.
D. Geotagging of Assets:
- Through remote sensing technology
E. Job Card Updation:
- Job card can also be deleted in case of fake job card, duplicate job card, household not willing to work, family shifted from Gram Panchayat permanently, single person in job card and that person is expired.
- Since April 2022 about 2.85 crore Job cards have been deleted.
F. Drone Monitoring:
- Pilot testing of drone usage is conducted for monitoring and implementation, enhancing real-time monitoring and data collection for improved decision-making.
Note: Use of different technologies ranging from Space technology/remote sensing to IT enabled technology, has brought a transformation in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA scheme
| UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ) Q. Among the following who are eligible to benefit from the “Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act”? (2011) (a) Adult members of only the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe households (b) Adult members of below poverty line (BPL) households (c) Adult members of households of all backward communities (d) Adult members of any household Ans: (d) |