The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is a government programme that provides employment opportunities to rural workers. However, the government's move to make ABPS mandatory for MGNREGS workers has sparked apprehension and angst among the rural workforce. With the deadline for ABPS ending on Friday, the NREGA Sangarsh Morcha has appealed to the government to extend the deadline, stating that only a fraction of workers are currently eligible for ABPS. The government had issued orders on January 30 this year making ABPS compulsory for all MGNREGS workers from February 1. Following protests, the deadline was extended to March 31, but the government has no plans to extend it any further.

 

Until now, MGNREGS had a flexible wage-payment system with two payment options: "account-based" payments (i.e. ordinary bank payments) and "Aadhaar-based" payments. However, the Morcha has criticized the government's move, calling it "an abominable injustice" and warning that the entire programme could collapse if workers are not paid on time.

 

To ensure the success of the MGNREGS programme, the government must take immediate steps to address the concerns of the rural workers. This includes extending the deadline for ABPS and making the account-based payment option available for MGNREGS workers. Additionally, the government should provide resources and support to help workers fulfill the requirements of ABPS eligibility. Only then can the MGNREGS programme be successful in providing timely wages to rural workers. Reference source: TH

 

UPSC Main Exam Question

 

What is the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), and why is its Aadhaar-based payment system (ABPS) causing concern among rural workers? Suggest measures that the government can take to ensure timely payment of wages to MGNREGS workers.

 

Answer: The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is a flagship program of the Indian government that aims to provide employment opportunities to rural workers. However, the government's decision to make Aadhaar-based payment system (ABPS) compulsory for MGNREGS workers has caused much distress among the workers.

 

The ABPS requires workers to link their bank accounts with their Aadhaar cards, and only those whose accounts are linked are eligible for payment. This has caused a significant problem for workers, particularly those who do not have an Aadhaar card or whose accounts are not linked to it. NREGA Sangarsh Morcha, an umbrella body of workers, has appealed to the government to review the final deadline, claiming that the proportion of MGNREGS workers eligible for the payment system is still below 50%.

 

To ensure timely payment of wages to MGNREGS workers, the government should consider extending the deadline for Aadhaar-based payments and making the account-based option available for workers. In addition, the government should ensure that all MGNREGS workers have access to the necessary resources and support to fulfill the requirements of ABPS eligibility. This would include setting up Aadhaar registration camps in rural areas and providing assistance to workers in linking their accounts to their Aadhaar cards.

 

Furthermore, the government must ensure that there are no technical glitches in the payment system, which have been reported by many workers. The government should take immediate steps to address these issues and provide an efficient and transparent payment system to workers.

 

In conclusion, MGNREGS is an important program for providing employment opportunities to rural workers. However, the government's decision to make Aadhaar-based payment system (ABPS) compulsory for MGNREGS workers has caused much distress among the workers. Therefore, the government must take immediate steps to ensure that all workers are eligible for payment and that there are no technical glitches in the payment system, to ensure timely payment of wages to MGNREGS workers.