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 .