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MNREGA works will now be monitored by drones to ensure transparency, accountability, and reduce irregularities in rural employment projects.
In a new move to ensure transparency, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) scheme will now have its projects monitored using drones. This initiative comes in response to reports of irregularities in various districts where workers were being marked present and receiving wages without actually working. The government aims to use drone technology to minimize such issues and also ensure that only the deserving individuals may benefit from the scheme.
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The MNREGA scheme is crucial for providing employment in rural areas, but there have been complaints of misuse. In response, the state government has instructed the officials to monitor the projects using drones. This step aims to ensure that the work done under MNREGA is transparent and that those who are eligible will receive the benefits they deserve. Drones will offer a clear picture of the actual work being carried out and detect any irregularities.
Drone monitoring will first be conducted in areas where more complaints have been reported. For instance, the Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh has seen several cases of irregularities. As a result, drone inspections have already begun in Banda district. The goal is to use these drones to record footage of MNREGA works, providing real-time evidence of the activities and the quality of work being performed.
The Deputy Chief Minister and Rural Development Minister, Keshav Prasad Maurya, has directed that the monitoring system be strengthened to ensure that government schemes like MNREGA are implemented correctly. Along with drone monitoring, the number of teams inspecting worksites at the district level has increased. This will help ensure the quality and accuracy of the work being done.
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The process started as a trial in Banda, where MNREGA projects are now being monitored through drone videography and photography. This method will soon be extended to other districts. The footage gathered will help officials ensure that the work being carried out is up to standard, and it will also serve as proof of compliance with the rules of the scheme.
After Banda, the next district to be monitored using drones will be Jalaun. A state-level drone monitoring team has been formed to oversee the quality of MNREGA projects across the state. In Jalaun, for instance, drones will inspect worksites in 20-gram panchayats, with the aim of ensuring transparency and quality in all projects under the scheme.
The MNREGA scheme was launched on September 7, 2005, to provide 100 days of guaranteed employment per year to adult members of rural families. The scheme aims to uplift marginalized communities, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, BPL families, and others. The types of work offered under MNREGA include road construction, well and pond digging, and soil removal.
The wage rate under MNREGA differs by region, and in Uttar Pradesh, workers earn ₹337 per day. Currently, around 3.20 crore workers are registered under MNREGA in the state, but only 1.62 crore of them are actively working. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many migrant workers found employment under the MNREGA scheme in their home villages, but after the pandemic, many have returned to cities, reducing the number of active workers.
The introduction of drones in MNREGA monitoring is a significant step towards ensuring transparency and accountability. By providing real-time footage of work, the state government aims to eliminate irregularities and improve the effectiveness of this essential scheme. This technology-driven approach will help ensure that the benefits of MNREGA reach those who truly need them.