Date:13/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/13/stories/2008091362072000.htm

National

Rs. 2,900 crore disbursed through post offices under job scheme

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Over Rs. 2,900 crore has been disbursed through post offices across the country as wages under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).

As on July 31 this year, 1.47 crore accounts were opened for NREGS payments. The number of post offices disbursing wages across 21 States is over 70,000.Andhra Pradesh has the maximum number with over 94 lakh accounts. The government decided that payments be made only through banks or post offices to ensure that wages were paid properly and expeditiously.

The Department of Posts, in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, is working towards establishing an electronic payment system. Pilot implementation is being planned in selected districts of Orissa and it is expected to be operational by December.