The rural development ministry has decided to use information and communication technology (ICT) tools for the effective implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).

It has directed all state governments to use six percent of the NREGS allocation (under administrative costs head) in the use of ICT tools. The direction comes at the backdrop of numerous complaints coming in from states in the effective implementation of the act.

During the regular review of the scheme procedural deficiency relating to the application for employment, dated receipts for application for work, job card formats, muster rolls, maintenance of record registers, delayed payment of wages, lack of an effective grievance redressal system, inspection of works,  have come to light, said an official.

The use of ICT tools will largely take care of these deficiencies.

“The use of ICT tools will ensure the data related to job cards, employment demanded and allocated, days worked, muster rolls, funds available/spent, social audit findings will be available for public scrutiny, said an official.  

NREGS is central government’s poverty alleviation programme and it assures 100 days' work to the rural unemployed unskilled population. Launched in 2006, NREGS has provided employment to  4.68 crore people so far.