Rajasthan: MGNREGA scheme goes paperless with new software

JAIPUR: In a bid to go paperless and to ensure transparency, state rural development department’s MGNREGA section has introduced a ‘SECURE software’ application for creating estimates and sanctioning of various works under the scheme online. Rajasthan was the first state to introduce the system. This has helped in making the process easier as no files on estimates and sanctions are required to be sent from the districts manually.
SECURE (Software for Estimate Calculation Using Rural rates for Employment) - is a web-based application developed by NIC Kerala with the help of state MGNREGA mission, government of Kerala, for creating estimates for MGNREGA works.
“This is a step towards making the whole process transparent. Earlier, when a work was sanctioned the files used to change many hands - from JTAs to the collector. Ultimately, nobody knew where the file was pending,” said MGNREGA commissioner P C Kishan.
“Now, one can track the file online. In some cases, the JTAs used to blackmail for money. Sometimes, they were not aware of sanctioning of the work. With this new software, they would get to know at what level the work is pending and the status of the work. Also, on whose table the work is pending,” he added. Kishan added, “Now, the person under whose name the work has been sanctioned gets to know that it has already been sanctioned. It will also help in better monitoring and ensuring transparency. But, some resistance to change is always there from a few districts.”
Meanwhile, MGNREGA executive engineer Arvind Saxena said, “Creating estimates and sanctioning of work can be done online. ”