All MGNREGS payments through eFMS
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 14 2022:
Offline payment of wages for Job Card holders of MGNREGS in 34 blocks of hill districts of the state will be discontinued and the payment made directly to bank accounts through electronic Fund Management System (eFMS).
An order issued in this regard by Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (RD & PR) said that the Supreme Court directed payment of wages to Job Card holders of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) of the Ministry of Rural Development only through eFMS.
However, offline payment of wages for Job Card in 34 blocks of hill districts of Manipur continued due to lack of personal bank accounts of Job Card holders despite the Supreme Court order after the apex court passed an interim order following a petition filed in this regard by an individual that there is no opportunity for Job Card holders in 34 blocks to open bank accounts.
The apex court in its judgement on the PIL on September 26 ruled that MGNREGS fund should be disbursed to bank accounts of Job Card holders.
The apex court's interim order also directed the state government that Job Card holders who are yet to open personal bank accounts must open by December 31, the government order said adding that eFMS had been implemented in all states and Union Territories of the country except in 34 blocks Of Manipur.
With the opening of bank accounts for Job Card holders in every block of Manipur, eFMS can be fully implemented now and this system would not only achieve financial inclusion goal in far flung hill ar eas of the state but also enable Job Card holders to withdraw and utilise the wages as per their conveniences and time, the order said.
The government order further said that all payments for MGNREGS including wages, material component and administrative charges will be made through eFMS with effect from December 15, 2022 .