New Delhi: To bring more transparency and
accountability in implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA
which faced charges of corruption, the Rural Development
Ministry today joined hands with UIDAI to prepare a biometric
database of workers under the flagship social sector scheme.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between
the Ministry and UIDAI in the presence of Rural Development
Minister C P Joshi and UIDAI chairperson Nandan Nilekani for
this.
While UIDAI will use the data in issuing unique identity
number to NREGA workers, it will be used by the Ministry to
bring transparency in the implementation of NREGA, especially
maintenace of records, a ministry official said.
Joshi said the use of biometric database linked with
other ICT (Information, Communication and Technology) tools
will help check fudging of NREGA records.
"There are still instances of delay in payment of wages
to MNREGA workers, duplication in entry of the names of the
workers....we have taken a step forward (to bring more
transparency in record maintenance of NREGA) by signing the
MoU with UIDAI," he said.
The MoU was signed during a national workshop on `ICT for
People`s Empowerment: One More Step Towards Governance Reforms
and Trasparency` organised here by Rural Development Ministry
on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister
Rajiv Gandhi.
Forest and Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and
Planning Commission Deputy Chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia,
also attended the programme besides Ministers of State for
Rural Development Agatha Sangma, Pradeep Jain Aditya and Sisir
Adhikari.
Ahluwalia said linking of ICT with UID will bring "huge"
transparency in implementation of MNREGA.
Nilekani said `Adhar` model would help in identification,
maintenance of attendance registration and payment of wages to
MGNREGA beneficiaries.
PTI
