Zero balance account facility for NREGS workers extended in Raj

Jaipur, Oct 8 (UNI) The Indian postal department has extended zero balance facility for NREGS job earners' saving bank accounts in post offices to facilitate easy maintenance of such accounts number of which is expected to cross the mark of one crore in Rajasthan alone.

Talking to reporters here today Chief Post Master General (CPMG) S Gauriar said the PO saving bank account holders did require to maintain a minimum balance of Rs 50 but in view of economic strength of poor labour class families, the Finance Ministry had directed the Postal Department to waive the minimum balance condition for NREGS workers.

He said the scheme had been launched in all districts in Rajasthan since April 1 this year and as many as 31,18,575 saving bank accounts had so far been opened in various post offices in the state by NREGS workers.

Rajasthan was second state in the country to have the largest number of such accounts, he said.

Andhra Pradesh with around 90 lakh saving accounts stood at the top position, but the above scheme had been implemented there since 2005, the CPMG added.

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