Nationwide roll-out of biometric identification for NREGS

Entire country to be covered in two years; ICT enabled biometric system to check corruption

brajesh

Brajesh Kumar | August 20, 2010



After a successful pilot projects on use of biometrics in registering attendance of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) workers in different parts of the country, the rural development ministry is all set for a nationwide roll out.

A MoU in this regard was signed between RD ministry and Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) today in the capital. The entire country will be covered in two years, RD ministry officials claimed.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be part of this project and I am certain Adhar will help in addressing the issue of fudged muster rolls and delay in wage payments thus bringing in transparency and accountability in NREGA.” Nandan Nilkeni, Chairman UIDAI said addressing the delegates gathered from different state for a workshop on biometrics at Vigyan Bhavan in the capital today.

Rural Development minister C.P.Joshi said the MoU with UIDAI will help connect the 2.50 lakh Panchayats spread across the country and re-mould their functioning in a swift and transparent manner. Moreover, the ICT enabled end to end solution will focus on issues of governance reform, transparency and accountability in the context of MGNREGA, he said.

Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia also present on the occasion underlined the need to look for the convergence with other schemes from different ministries in the run up to the preparations of the 12th five year plan. Prime Minister’s Advisor on Infrastructure Sam Pitroda joined the proceedings live from Chicago, USA by video conferencing. In his address he said that NREGS had defined a regime of rights and entitlements for marginalized sections of the society and the time has come now for democratization of information. This, he added is possible with the help of ICT which has the potential to increase transparency, accountability and efficiency .

Comments

 

Other News

India faces critical shortage of skin donors amid rising burn cases

India reports nearly 70 lakh burn injury cases every year, resulting in approximately 1.4 lakh deaths annually. Experts estimate that up to 50% of these lives could be saved with adequate access to skin donations.   A significant concern is that around 70% of burn victims fall wi

Not just politics, let`s discuss policies too

Why public policy matters Most days, India`s loudest debates stop at the ballot box. We can name every major leader and recall every campaign slogan. Still, far fewer of us can explain why a widow`s pension is delayed or how a government school`s budget is actually approved. That

When algorithms decide and children die

The images have not left me, of dead and wounded children being carried in the arms of the medics and relatives to the ambulances and hospitals. On February 28, at the start of Operation Epic Fury, cruise missiles struck the Shajareh Tayyebeh school – officially named a girls’ school, in Minab,

The economics of representation: Why women in power matter

India’s democracy has grown in scale, but not quite in balance. Women today are active participants in elections, influencing outcomes in ways that were not as visible earlier. Yet their presence in legislative institutions continues to lag behind. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was meant to addres

India will be powerful, not aggressive: Bhaiyyaji

India is poised to emerge as a global power but will remain rooted in its civilisational ethos of non-aggression and harmony, former RSS General Secretary Suresh `Bhaiyyaji` Joshi has said.   He was speaking at the launch of “Rashtrabhav,” a book by Ravindra Sathe

AI: Code, Control, Conquer

India today stands at a critical juncture in the area of artificial intelligence. While the country is among the fastest adopters of AI in the world, it remains heavily reliant on technologies developed elsewhere. This paradox, experts warn, cannot persist if India seeks technological sovereignty.


Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter