Patna: Aiming to root out corruption in implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in Bihar, the State Government has decided to cover one million beneficiaries under the E-shakti scheme by March 31, 2010.
“In the very first year, the project, with the help of service provider Smaartech Technologies limited, will cover beneficiaries from Patna district. This will entail issuing 10 lakh E-shakti cards in over 1300 villages spread over 23 blocks in the district,” Smaartech Director (Bihar) B.K. Mishra said here.
Mr. Mishra said subsequently over the next four years, the project would be set up in the remaining 37 districts to cover 24 million NREGS beneficiaries in approximately 39,000 villages spread over 534 blocks.
In total, about three crore E-shakti cards would be distributed under the State pilot project. Smart cards have already been processed for job card holders of village Baritangrila and the rest of the beneficiaries will be issued their personalised E-shakti cards once the smart card distribution starts in a few months. E-shakti project is an initiative by the Rural Development Department of Bihar Government.
Since there had been allegations that the NREGS is beset with corruption and there is no proper method of work measurement, taking attendance and disbursing wages, the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) has been used to rid NREGS of corruption charges, official sources said.
The E-shakti would also facilitate registration process of individuals which includes recording of personal information as well as biometric information (photograph and all 10 fingerprints), Mr. Mishra said.
The E-shakti project was inaugurated on February 24, 2009 in the Paliganj block of Patna district by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and till now around 8.76 lakh village labourers of 14 blocks have been registered under it.
An estimated 3000 smart cards have already been distributed.
Mr. Mishra said the information technology application was introduced to bring effective coordination in execution, better targeting of beneficiaries, establishing transparency and accountability, e-based grievance redressal mechanism and establishing state of art financial management systems.
All these together constitute a complete technological solution for the preparation and execution of poverty alleviation programmes in Bihar, Mr. Mishra said.
The project, when fully becoming functional, would empower the rural economy of the State.
Mr. Mishra said Bihar thus became the first state in the country to start a call centre under E-shakti project dedicated exclusively to NREGS.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had on October 14 inaugurated the E-shakti call centre in Patna by dialling a toll free number 18003452244 and asking a few questions regarding E-shakti. -- PTI
“In the very first year, the project, with the help of service provider Smaartech Technologies limited, will cover beneficiaries from Patna district. This will entail issuing 10 lakh E-shakti cards in over 1300 villages spread over 23 blocks in the district,” Smaartech Director (Bihar) B.K. Mishra said here.
Mr. Mishra said subsequently over the next four years, the project would be set up in the remaining 37 districts to cover 24 million NREGS beneficiaries in approximately 39,000 villages spread over 534 blocks.
In total, about three crore E-shakti cards would be distributed under the State pilot project. Smart cards have already been processed for job card holders of village Baritangrila and the rest of the beneficiaries will be issued their personalised E-shakti cards once the smart card distribution starts in a few months. E-shakti project is an initiative by the Rural Development Department of Bihar Government.
Since there had been allegations that the NREGS is beset with corruption and there is no proper method of work measurement, taking attendance and disbursing wages, the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) has been used to rid NREGS of corruption charges, official sources said.
The E-shakti would also facilitate registration process of individuals which includes recording of personal information as well as biometric information (photograph and all 10 fingerprints), Mr. Mishra said.
The E-shakti project was inaugurated on February 24, 2009 in the Paliganj block of Patna district by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and till now around 8.76 lakh village labourers of 14 blocks have been registered under it.
An estimated 3000 smart cards have already been distributed.
Mr. Mishra said the information technology application was introduced to bring effective coordination in execution, better targeting of beneficiaries, establishing transparency and accountability, e-based grievance redressal mechanism and establishing state of art financial management systems.
All these together constitute a complete technological solution for the preparation and execution of poverty alleviation programmes in Bihar, Mr. Mishra said.
The project, when fully becoming functional, would empower the rural economy of the State.
Mr. Mishra said Bihar thus became the first state in the country to start a call centre under E-shakti project dedicated exclusively to NREGS.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had on October 14 inaugurated the E-shakti call centre in Patna by dialling a toll free number 18003452244 and asking a few questions regarding E-shakti. -- PTI
Source: Hindu, October 17,2009
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