| Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Economy, Topic: Poverty, Issue: Government initiatives, measures, and programs |
Context: Aadhaar-Based Payment System (ABPS) in Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
Issues in linking MGNREGA job card to ABPS
- Internet connectivity, fingerprint recognition, and difficulties faced by the disabled.
- Other issues – unrecorded working days, name duplication, lack of awareness, and errors in linking.
- Approximately 34.8% of job cardholders are ineligible for ABPS.
The way ahead:
- Core objectives of the scheme should not be overshadowed by technology.
- Budgets should address technological challenges.
- The state must prioritize workers’ livelihood security over technological solutions in addressing inequality and rural distress.
| +1 advantage for mains(Reports/Study/Indices)·        A study in has shown that employment generation scheme leads to
Ø Higher nutritional intake in the households that participate in them, Ø Empower women and pay them on a par with men, Ø Serve as insurance substitutes, Ø Offer pronounced benefits to marginalized communities including Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and to households with disabled workers, Ø Contribute to ensuring political transparency. |
