NREGA adopts web-enabled software for monitoring operations

[karira]

As reported in domain-b.com on 12 July 2008:
domain-b.com : NREGA adopts web-enabled software for monitoring operations

NREGA adopts web-enabled software for monitoring operations

The ministry of rural development has developed a web enabled MIS (NREGA(National Rural Employment Gurantee Act)) for improving the efficiency and transparency of operational processes and all the information related to National Rural Employmnet Guarantee progrmamme is vailable in a computer database and is also made available to public. The ministry has also organized national MIS workshops to review and accelerate MIS operationalisation by states.

The village level household data base has internal checks for ensuring consistency and conformity to normative processes. All critical parameters get monitored in public domain:

• Job seekers' entitlement data and documents such as registration, job cards, muster rolls
• Work selection and execution data including, shelf of approved and sanctioned works, work estimates, works under execution, measurement, with templates of work estimates have been designed as well
• Employment demanded and provided
• Financial indicators such as funds available, funds used, and the disaggregated structure of fund utilizations to assess the amount paid as wages, materials and administrative expenses

This data is software engineered for cross verification of records and generation of reports and alerts on any parameter of the Act. As the software offers local language support, it is easily usable across the country, particularly at the district and block levels.

The NREGA MIS is not just a tool for internal management, but also for external communication as it places all critical data in public domain making the implementation of NREGA completely transparent. All Job cards and Muster Rolls are being uploaded on the NREGA website.

Job cards and mster rolls have been made available so far. When fully operationalised the web site will enable citizens to avail of their right to get information without recourse to the legal procedures of RTI.

[karira]

This is a welcome move and will be a big relief to various NGO's / individuals who have been diligently following up NREGA scams all over the country. It will also greatly reduce the burden on Public Authorities to collate the data and reply to RTI applicants as well as reduction in the number of RTI Applications.

Just shows that computerisation of records (as mandated under the Sec 4 of the RTI Act) brings in greater transparency, reduces corruption and benefits both the citizen and the administration.

Other interesting news items regarding use of RTI in NREGA can be read at:

http://www.rtiindia.org/forum/search/searchid-31553/