Jharkhand develops app to transfer cash to migrant labourers

Express Computer has been doing comprehensive coverage of how state Governments are tackling the COVID-19 pandemic by using digital tools and other technologies. In today’s edition, we cover the state of Jharkhand. How the state is using drones and social media to enforce lockdown

The migrant crises has been one of the highlights of the COVID-19 crises. The plight of the migrants walking for days to reach their dear ones has been extensively reported. The migrants who haven’t been able to leave for their homes have also hogged the headlines.

Many social organisations have arranged for food and other essential material for the migrants.

A few state Governments have also arranged for direct transfer of money in the accounts of the migrants to provide them succor in this time of crises. The geo-fencing and the geo-tagging technologies has proved to be helpful to identify the migrants. Jharkhand has developed an app for direct transfer of money in the account of the migrants, “The first tranche of 1000 each to 1 lac migrants will be transferred on April 22,” says Dr. Nitin Madan Kulkarni Secretary (H&FW), Department of Health & Family Welfare, Jharkhand exclusively speaking to Express Computer

Moreover the state has covered most of the COVID-19 related technology enabled containment measures. “Jharkhand has launched an App to check-home quarantine. An E-Pass System in Ranchi has been deployed by a startup empanelled under Atal Bihari Vajpayee Innovation Lab (ABVIL). The first hackathon on COVID-19 was conducted by ABVIL (Under Government of Jharkhand) in partnership with Skillenza and Startup India. The hackathon was host to 20 teams across India. Overall, more than 50 entries were filed and with final developed solutions. Drones are being used for monitoring lockdown and movement of people in containment zones. We have commissioned one Cobot, which is used in a hospital to deliver food to the patients. It derisks the medical staff from being infected,” informs Nadkarni.

Bihar is one more state to have developed an app for disbursing money to the migrants. A downloadable weblink is sent for registration, to the migrant labourers outside the state. This applies to only those who are outside the state. Money has also been sent to those, who are outside the state of Bihar. The number of migrants covered thus far is over ten thousand. Money is transferred only after Aadhaar and photo is uploaded in the app.