Bihar introduces e-shakti yojna

16 October, 2009

An e-shakti scheme has been launched in Bihar to provide employment to the poor under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Schemes (NREGS) for all districts

NITISH Kumar the Chief Minister of Bihar launched the e-shakti scheme for National Rural Employment Guarantee Schemes (NREGS) for all districts in Bihar on October 14. It is a unique scheme where eligible job seekers, who have already been supplied with job cards under NREGS can, ask for jobs under the scheme over telephone. Toll free numbers are being installed in the headquarters for this scheme.

The CM was very critical of the department of rural development because the overall performance of the NREGS is not satisfactory and the state is on the second last rung of performance on a national basis.

The poor administrative infrastructure, ill trained personnel, rampant corruption at the panchayat level and apathy among departmental officials are the root causes of the dismal performance of this flagship scheme, which was started by the UPA government with much fanfare. In order to improve upon this scheme both in terms of financial and physical target achievement, the government took a decision only a couple of days ago that NREGS would be implemented though departments other than rural development. Departments like Water Resources, Welfare, Road construction, Building construction, REO and Minor Irrigation among others have also been asked to prepare plans to provide jobs those registered under NREGS.

The rules with respect to the NREGA are such that any state which fails to utilize allocated funds under this scheme would have next year’s allocation reduced by the same proportion. Thus every year Bihar keeps getting a lesser amount.

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COMMENTS (1)

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Shaswat

This is a very innovative step and is an efficient system to reduce paper work. This project will lead towards symbiotic association between Beneficiaries and the Government where, beneficiaries will be getting paid only when, they work and government, will be able to eliminate void in the implementation of NREGS and will be getting work out of beneficiaries. But, apart from e-Shakti processes such as registration, receipts, job demand, muster rolls, works, attendance, calculation and disbursement of wages , there is something called "Financial Inclusion" services which needs to be provided in order to provide banking services to those people who are financially excluded. There is a need for deployment of Business Correspondents with Information Communication Technology in order to provide such solutions.This will help banks to reduce operation cost and will also generate employment in rural areas. Thank you.