State tops in implementation

Minister for Panchayati Raj Ch Ayyanna Patrudu says the State stood first in direct benefit transfer in the country under which the workers have been getting their wages directly into their bank accounts.

Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh topped the 29 States in the country in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) for 2014-2015 in the category of transparency and accountability, said Minister for Panchayati Raj and MGNREGS Ch Ayyanna Patrudu.

Announcing this here on Saturday, the Minister said the award will be presented to the State government at EGS Sammelan to be organised by the Ministry of Rural Development in New Delhi on February 2.

He said Andhra Pradesh topped in direct benefit transfer in the country under which the workers have been getting their wages directly into their bank accounts. He said by linking job card with Aadhaar card, the AP government is able to disburse wages without any hassle and thereby eliminating the role of middlemen.

He said around 95 per cent of wages are being disbursed using Electronic Fund Management System and Mobile Management System. The wages were also being paid on time without much delay.

Society for Social Audit, Accountability and Transparency has observed the process being followed by the AP government and would be submitting a report to the AP government to rectify any shortfalls in the implementation.

The Minister further said Rs 3,100 crore was spent on MGNREGS in 2014-2015 financial year, of which, Rs 2,153 crore was disbursed directly through biometric system. He said two special teams have been deputed to each district to keep a watch on 60 types of works under the MGNREGS and had made suggestions to the local officials.

Award comes at a time when the State government completed 10 years in implementation of MGNREGS, the Minister added.