GS PAPER II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

Context: Union Minister of Rural Development launched launched National Mobile Monitoring Software (NMMS) app and Area officer monitoring App.

NMMS App

• It permits taking real time attendance of workers at Mahatma Gandhi NREGS worksites along with geotagged photograph, which will increase citizen oversight of the programme besides potentially enabling processing payments faster.

Area Officer Monitoring App

• It will facilitates recording findings online along with time stamped and go-coordinate tagged photograph for all the schemes of Deptt of Rural Development- Mahatma Gandhi NREGS, PMAYG, PMGSY.
• It would also enable not only better record keeping of inspections by field and supervisory officials but also facilitate analysis of the findings for better programme implementation.

Significance:

• It will bring transparency and accountability to the execution of the Rural Development Programmes as these two Apps will help in effective monitoring of schemes.

About MGNREGA:

• It provides a legal guarantee for one hundred days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household willing to do public work-related unskilled manual work at the statutory minimum wage.
• The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), Govt of India is monitoring the entire implementation of this scheme in association with state governments
• Aim: Improving the purchasing power of the rural people, primarily semi or un-skilled work to people living below poverty line in rural India.
• It attempts to bridge the gap between the rich and poor in the country.
• Roughly one-third of the stipulated work force must be women.
• The Gram Panchayat registers households after making enquiry and issues a job card.
• The employment will be provided within a radius of 5 km: if it is above 5 km extra wage will be paid.
• Within 15 days of submitting the application or from the day work is demanded, wage employment will be provided to the applicant.
• MGNREGA provides “Green” and “Decent” work.
• Social Audit of MGNREGA works is mandatory, which lends to accountability and transparency.
• MGNREGA works address the climate change vulnerability and protect the farmers from such risks and conserve natural resources.
• The Gram Sabha is the principal forum for wage seekers to raise their voices and make demands. It is the Gram Sabha and the Gram Panchayat, which approves the shelf of works under MGNREGA and fix their priority.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1720717

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