Aadhaar number, job scheme wages to be linked

The Aadhaar card numbers will be linked to the wages of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme from April 1, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Minister H K Patil said on Wednesday.

He told reporters that all beneficiaries of the scheme would be asked to furnish their Aadhaar card numbers so that they could be linked to their bank accounts for payment of wages. An awareness drive in this regard would be launched soon. Other rural development programmes such as Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, would also be made Aadhaar-based, Patil added.

RDPR  Commissioner Munish Moudgil said  that 44 per cent of those who have enrolled for the job guarantee scheme have furnished their Aadhaar card numbers so far. The others would be asked to furnish their Aadhaar card numbers soon. Those who have not registered for Aadhaar cards can do so by visiting their nearest Nada Kacheris, he said.

Earlier in the day,  Punjab RDPR  Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka and a team of officials, who are visiting the State, held discussions with Patil and the department officials.
Singh said his state was keen to replicate the  solid waste management in gram panchayats and administrative set up of panchayat institutions practised in State.