AP takes up pilot Smart Card project in Medak district

Hyderabad, Feb 2 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh, which has taken the lead by going in for online monitoring of the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP), has taken up a pilot Smart Card project in Medak district.

During a media interaction, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahuluwalia and State Rural Development Principal Secretary K Raju said under the pilot project the beneficiaries would be provided ''Smart Card'' after opening no frills account.

Landless labourers need not go to a far off post office and instead the Banking Corespondent would visit their villages under the pilot project being taken up in collaboration with the Institute for Banking Research and Training and the State Bank of India.

Impersonation would not at all be possible as the individual beneficiary's thumb impression would be taken everytime a withdrawal was made from his account, he said, adding the project would be extended to other parts of the state later.

UNI