HYDERABAD: The Government has introduced a smart-card system in three mandals of Warangal district, to enable beneficiaries of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme draw their wages from an ATM-type facility without any outside interference. Thus, full benefit is ensured to them, without any pilferage.

Once the experiment is successful, all 33 lakh beneficiaries in 19 districts, where NREGP is being implemented, will be covered by smart-cards.

The system has been taken up in cooperation with the Reserve Bank to check various irregularities likely to be committed by the field staff to siphon off funds.

Announcing this at a press conference here on Monday, Rural Development Minister G. Chinna Reddy said plans were afoot to bring even different kinds of pensions, allowed to over 30 lakh beneficiaries, under the system.

Suspensions

K. Raju, Principal Secretary in-charge of NREGP, said 197 field employees, found guilty of irregularities--like encashing cheques issued in favour of beneficiaries--were dismissed and Rs 4 lakhs recovered from them.

Also, three mandal praja parishad development officers were suspended.

The dismissed staff included 167 field assistants, 27 technical assistants and three programme officers.

He said the irregularities were unearthed following a "social audit" taken up in the State.

In all, 8.5 lakh beneficiaries in 4,010 villages were contacted by the investigating agencies during the audit.

The Minister said NREGP was a "resounding success" in the State, with over 33 lakh beneficiaries covered, nearly Rs 688 crore paid as wages and 77,940 families completing 100 days of employment.

Mr. Reddy said the daily wages under NREGP had been enhanced by 75 paise, taking the total amount to Rs 80.75, the highest paid in the country.

Payment of wages was being ensured within 15 days for more than 70 per cent beneficiaries.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail