Biometric cards launched for panchayat job card holders

Morigaon: Assam government today launched the biometric smart card payment system to Panchayat Job Card Holders under the MGNREGA in Morigaon district.

Launching the scheme in Bhurbanda Development Block in the district, Panchayat Minister Rockybul Hussain said this would bring transparency in the payment system of MGNREGA in the state.

Stating that smart cards would be introduced in 2202 panchayats across the state to curb corruption in the scheme, Hussain said the daily wage for job card holders had been increased to Rs 156 from Rs 136 per day.

Each BPL family would also be given Indira Awaz Yojana house at Rs 75,000, the minister said opening a Rajiv Gandhi Service Centre under the Bharat Nirman Scheme.

The service centres will work as knowledge resource centres and help in ensuring that the benefits of development reach the needy in rural areas.