The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance (Shri Namo Narain Meena)
(a) and (b):-As per Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), with a view to ensure
timely payment, infusing transparency and enhancing the integrity of wage payment,
Schedule II of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act(MGNREGA) has
been amended to provide for wage disbursement to MGNREGA workers through accounts
in Banks or Post Offices. MGNREGA workers are entitled to open accounts either in
Banks or Post Offices with a zero balance. State-wise details of cumulative number
of bank accounts opened for MGNREGA workers and amount of wages disbursed through
bank accounts under MGNREGA as reported by States/UTs to MoRD in MIS are given in Annex.
(c) to (e):- All India Regional Rural Banks Employees Association (AIRRBEA) had represented
in 2009-10 raising inter-alia the issues of shortage of staff in view of massive branch
expansion, financial inclusion and NREGA, etc.
Appointment of personnel in banks, including in the RRBs, is an ongoing process taking
inter-alia into consideration growth in business and superannuation of personnel.
The following steps have been taken to meet requirement of staff and ensure smooth functioning
of RRBs:
(i) Appointment and Promotion Rules of RRBs were revised and notified in 2010
(ii) All RRBs have migrated to Core Banking Solution and have joined National Payment System;
(iii) RRBs have been advised to install ATMs in all branches;
(iv) RRBs have been advised to open Ultra small branches, to move towards providing internet
banking facilities to their customers and to provide training to staff on regular basis.
