With the extended deadline for Aadhaar-based payment system for receiving wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) set to end on June 30, the bank accounts of 93.4% of the workers in Kerala have been Aadhaar-seeded. Only four States have crossed 90% Aadhaar seeding, with Andhra Pradesh (96.1%) and Tamil Nadu (94.2%) ahead of Kerala.
The Union Rural Development Ministry had earlier stipulated February 1 as the deadline for shift to Aadhaar-based wage payment. Till now, wages for MGNREGS workers were being paid directly to their bank accounts. Under the new system, the wages will have to be paid to a bank account linked with Aadhaar. The change was proposed with an intent to bring about transparency and ensure that payments are made to the correct accounts and on time.
However, faced with protests and demands from the States due to the slow pace of Aadhaar seeding, the deadline was initially postponed to March 31, and later to June 30. The process, according to MGNREGS State Mission officials, consists of Aadhaar seeding, authentication, matching with bank account and linking to the National Payments Corporation of India.
