57 lakh active workers await e-KYC under VB GRAM G

The e-KYC verification rate for registered workers in the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (VB G RAM G) is currently at 71%, two months after its launch. The government had promised that workers with e-KYC verified under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) would be eligible for work under VB G RAM G. Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan assured that existing e-KYC-verified job cards would remain valid until new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued.

However, only 57 lakh workers are still awaiting e-KYC verification. The Ministry has made e-KYC verification a prerequisite for availing work under VB G RAM G, with exceptions granted in a few cases. The delay in e-KYC verification is concerning, as only 7.67 crore person-days were generated under VB G RAM G in July, 49.94% lower than the 15.33 crore person-days under MGNREGS in the same month last year.

State governments were instructed to complete e-KYC verification within a week of the new system's rollout, but the target was not met by February. Tamil Nadu has the highest e-KYC rate, at 99.32% among active workers and 84.89% among all registered workers, followed by Rajasthan at 95.66% and 69.45%, Uttar Pradesh at 94.21% and 58.89%, Andhra Pradesh at 90.4% and 82.32%, and West Bengal at 97.3% and 85.49%.

Bihar has the lowest e-KYC rate among active workers at 89.19% and 58.05% among all registered workers.