Madhya Pradesh to expand mobile banking model

BHOPAL, MADHYA PRADESH: Impressed with the mobile banking model in Annupur district which ensures on-the-spot payment of wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), the Madhya Pradesh government has decided to extended it to all the districts of the state, an official said.

Annupur's Collector Kavindra Kiyawat said that wages worth Rs.54 crore have been distributed under the system titled 'Aapka bank, apke dwar' ('Your bank at your doorstep').

This resulted in a 25 percent increase in number of wage earners. He said that the mobile banking system was so simple that even poor wage earners were able to maintain bank accounts and the reliance on moneylenders had been greatly discouraged.

The Annupur model was judged as the best practice in implementing the MGNREGS and was also awarded by the President of India.

Anuppur district is located in the northeastern part of Madhya Pradesh