Plugging it

TECHNOLOGY: Some basic automation in rural India ensures that villagers get what is due to them.

India may be an infotech powerhouse for the world but there are very limited examples of the successful use of technology to benefit the masses.

Here is one from Andhra "" the use of some very basic record-keeping software has ensured that there is no "leakage" in the money pipe of the National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREG) scheme. The tamper-proof system secures the promised 100 days of work and the rightful wages to the average rural citizen.

The experiment began in 13 districts of the state in March, where the work days given to every villager and the payment received was recorded on software installed in computers in every mandal.

This has given the muster roll of the NREG programme "" which records presence or absence "" a new meaning.The roll is often tampered and inaccessible to the villagers.

There have also been complaints about the less-than-deserved money paid to workers. The software driven system however leaves little scope for manipulation.

According to Tanmoy Chakravorty, vice president, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which has piloted the Andhra experiment, other states like Jharkhand and Bihar are also keen to adopt the scheme.

"In 50 years, Andhra had just seven lakh post office accounts. After this scheme, 6 lakh additional post office accounts have been opened in these 13 districts,'' he says.

These are accounts of NREG job card holders who get their money deposited directly in their accounts, ruling out any cheating. In this case at least, technology seems to be the panacea for all ills.