Celebrating one year in office, the NDA government has asked states to enrol all MNREGA workers under the three newly-launched social security schemes and open bank accounts for each worker under the Jan Dhan Yojana.
In a communication sent to all states including Congress- ruled Kerala, Union Rural Development Ministry has also asked them to disburse MNREGA wage payment through the banking network operated by banking correspondents wherever functional banking correspondents are deployed by the banks.
The ministry note says the decision in this regard was taken at a meeting chaired by Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Nripendra Misra, on May 15, within a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the schemes -- Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY).
The government's decision to enrol all MNREGA workers under the newly-launched schemes is aimed at widening the scope of these programmes for empowering the poor and marginalised in the country.
Over 3.60 households in the country were provided employment under the MNREGA, the largest employment guarantee scheme, in the last fiscal. PMSBY will offer a renewable one year accidental death- cum-disability cover of Rs 200,00,0 for partial or permanent disability to all savings bank account holders in the age group of 18-70 years for a premium of Rs 12 per annum per subscriber.
PMJJBY will offer a renewable one year life cover of Rs 2 lakh to all savings bank account holders in the age group of 18-50 years, covering death due to any reason, for a premium of Rs 330 per annum per subscriber.
APY will focus on the unorganised sector and provide subscribers a fixed minimum pension of Rs 1,000, Rs 2,000, Rs 3,000, Rs 4,000 or Rs 5,000 per month, starting at the age of 60 years, depending on the contribution option exercised on entering at an age between 18 and 40 years.
