New Delhi: In a significant move towards enhancing transparency and efficiency, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) has adopted the Aadhaar-Based Payment Bridge System (APBS) for wage payments to beneficiaries. This system, which became mandatory from January 1, 2024, ensures that wage payments for unskilled manual work under the NREGA are directly credited to the Bank/Post office accounts provided by the beneficiaries.
The APBS facilitates a seamless and direct transfer of wages, leveraging Aadhaar authentication for added security and accuracy. This digital payment system is a crucial step in minimizing delays and enhancing the overall effectiveness of the wage disbursement process, directly benefiting the workforce engaged in rural employment projects.
Furthermore, as part of the ongoing efforts to maintain the integrity of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS, States/UTs regularly conduct updates and deletions of Job Cards. Notably, the deletion of Job Cards is not linked to Aadhaar non-linkage with bank accounts. Instead, deletions are carried out for various reasons, including cases of fake job cards, duplicate job cards, instances where individuals are not willing to work, families permanently shifting from Gram Panchayats, and cases where the sole person on the job card has passed away.
As of February 1, 2024, in the current financial year 2023-24, a total of 85.64 lakh job cards have been deleted under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS. The reasons for these deletions are multi-faceted, aiming to maintain the accuracy and relevance of the program. The categories of deletions include incorrect and fake job cards, duplicates, cases where individuals are not willing to work, families permanently relocating from Gram Panchayats, and instances where the sole person on the job card is deceased.
According to data from NREGASoft, the total number of job cards deleted under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS since April 2022 till date (February 1, 2024) stands at 311.19 lakh. This emphasizes the commitment of the Ministry of Rural Development to maintain the integrity of the employment guarantee program and ensure that resources are directed towards genuinely deserving beneficiaries.
Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, shared these details in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, highlighting the government’s dedication to streamlining processes and leveraging digital solutions for the welfare of rural workers.