The centrally-sponsored Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) Scheme, which has its share of controversies over allegations of scams and siphoning of funds, is turning in a new leaf in Uttar Pradesh.
The state government has adopted a GPS/GIS based monitoring system for greater transparency in MNREGA works. The projects can now be seen on Google Earth for verification. Google Earth allows users to explore a virtual globe/map and view satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings etc.
The novel system developed in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC), has been implemented as a pilot in three blocks of Lakhimpur Kheri, Hardoi and Unnao districts. It would be adopted all over UP after evaluating its efficacy.
Geographic information system (GIS) is an environment to capture, analyze and present geographical data. Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system. GPS satellites circle earth in a precise orbit and transmit signals. Through advanced technological tools, one can determine the exact position of an object and display it on an electronic map.
State agricultural production commissioner Alok Ranjan said here the photographs of MNREGA works along with their latitude and longitude coordinates had been uploaded to the state rural development website.
The new system would help detect instances of duplication of MNREGA works already completed and allow better analysis of development works in an area. This would help the government check frauds in the scheme and ensure transparency, state rural development commissioner Anil Garg said.
As per official data, about 3.2 million families in UP had been provided with jobs under MNREGA this fiscal (until September 2012) by incurring Rs 1,320 crore.
During the previous Mayawati regime (2007-12), then union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh had written to the state alleging scam in MNREGA Scheme and demanded stern action. Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had also accused UP of large scale corruption in central schemes.
