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Beneficiaries of India’s rural employment scheme can operate their accounts by putting their thumbprints on the allotted place at the ATM, which, after verifying the print, opens up transactions
Tamil Nadu has launched a new system of wage disbursal through automated teller machines (ATMs) for beneficiaries of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) at five places in Cuddalore district -- Periyakanganakuppam, Thiruvahindrapuram, Panchanguppam, Padhirikuppam and Karaiyeravittakuppam. The five ATMs were set up by the State Bank of India with technical support from the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras. Besides the regular features, a special biometric technique has been incorporated in the ATMs so that even people who are illiterate and do not know their four-digit code number can operate their accounts. All the NREGS beneficiary has to do is to put his/her thumbprint on the allotted place in the ATM, which will open up the transaction after reading the print. Beneficiaries can withdraw a minimum of Rs 50 at a time. The system, which was piloted in these five areas of Tamil Nadu, will be extended to the rest of the state after its performance has been assessed. It was adopted to help prevent malpractice. At Periyakanganankuppam, 600-odd people were enrolled under the NREGS, and 400 of them opened bank accounts, says Cuddalore District Collector Rajendra Ratnoo. Thanks to the system, no cash changes hands at the panchayat level. Once a panchayat president or designated official instructs the bank, payment, according to the amount of work done, is credited to the beneficiary’s account. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has been experiencing a number of problems including irregularities in the muster rolls, corruption and siphoning of funds, and corrupt middlemen. Experts have been looking for practical solutions to some of these problems through the use of technology. Andhra Pradesh publishes all the details on a website to introduce more transparency in implementation of the NREGS. Even minute details, including discrepancies, may be tracked through the website. Supreme Court judge R V Raveendran recently stressed the need to ensure that the NREGS was made more transparent and corruption-free. He added that an efficient grievance redress mechanism must be put in place. The Union Ministry of Rural Development has already agreed to set up a national call centre (NCC) to cater to the complaints of all states and union territories regarding implementation of the NREGS. The Orissa government was first to introduce the electronic grievance redressal system (EGRS) for NREGS job-seekers in the state. Ten potential problem areas pertaining to the NREGS have been identified -- not getting job cards, not being registered for work, not getting work after registration, getting work after 15 days, and delays in wage payments. Under the new grievance redressal system, a call centre was set up at the state headquarters and a toll-free number introduced in the panchayati raj department. The department has designed a software where complaints booked through the toll-free number are routed to the concerned block development officer using a digital signature. Source: The Hindu, November 23, 2008
Business Standard, November 23, 2008
The Deccan Herald, November 23, 2008
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