NREGA implementation in Karnataka and Puduchery

New Delhi, May 30 : The States of Karnataka and Puduchery have witnessed considerable achievements during the implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).

These achievements are linked with Ministry of Rural Development's advice to all States for ensuring wage payment to NREGA workers through Bank and Post office accounts. So far 1.6 crore accounts have been opened across the country.

In Karnataka considerable achievements have been made in the financial inclusion of NREGA workers. Total number of households registered under NREGA in Karnataka are 15, 65,679, the total number of Job Cards issued are 14, 79,744. The number of bank accounts opened are 11, 36,844, the total number of Post office accounts opened are 2, 11,952.

Action has also been initiated to sign the MOU with Department of Posts and it has been decided to consider complete adoption of the post office network in Koppal from northern region and Chamarajanagar from the southern region of Karnataka.

To ensure transparency and to avoid middlemen payments of wages to NREGA workers are being made only through banks and post office accounts since inception of the scheme

In Puducherry also notable progress has been made in the implementation of National Pilot Project for Financial inclusion of beneficiaries through the Reserve Bank of India, in which 1.43 lakh bank accounts were opened for the poor and marginalized workers of NREGA. Till date about 40,000 applications have been received from the families in the rural areas of Puducherry and the Job cards will be issued soon.

In addition, the State Rural Development Department is continuously in touch with the bank and postal department representatives to ensure bank accounts are opened for all NREGA beneficiaries. Accordingly, the Panchayat Presidents in Puducherry will be involved in the opening of bank accounts for all NREGA beneficiaries.

It is to be noted that a Job card is the basic legal document that enables the registered household to demand guaranteed employment. It has a provision for mentioning bank accounts details in the job card too.

The household Job card has the name and photograph of each registered member. The Job card and photograph are free for the applicant which will also include two photographs to be made for opening of bank account as part of NREGA programme, if required.

ANI