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PM unveils direct cash transfer scheme,
pitches for inclusion
Tuesday November 27, 2012 08:31:01 AM,
IANS
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New Delhi:
In an ambitious policy initiative that could prove to be a
game-changer for UPA-II, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday
announced direct cash payout of subsidies to beneficiaries from
Jan 1, 2013.
The subsidy amount would be transferred to beneficiaries' bank
accounts linked to Aadhaar cards.
The scheme is expected to cut down waste and corruption in
distribution of subsidised items, the prime minister said,
chairing the first meeting of the National Committee on Direct
Transfers.
He asked all ministries "to work in right earnest" for
implementation of this pioneering initiative and also exhorted the
departments to work in close coordination to enable poor people to
open bank accounts smoothly.
Initially, the government will implement the scheme for cash
transfer to the beneficiaries' accounts in 51 districts from Jan
1, 2013. The scheme will be worked in 18 states from April and in
the rest of the country later in 2013, the prime minister said.
The scheme will be operationalised by leveraging the Aadhaar
platform.
The prime minister also asked the finance ministry and the Unique
Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to work closely to
ensure the success of the scheme.
"I would expect the finance ministry and the Unique Identification
Authority to work in close coordination to achieve a collective
goal (of financial inclusion)," he said in statement here.
The scheme, which has been unveiled barely 18 months before the
next elections, could prove to be a potential game changer for the
United Progressive Alliance-II, which has been besieged by charges
of corruption.
It is expected to reap rich electoral dividends in the same manner
the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)
worked for the UPA-I.
Manmohan Singh underlined the need for integrating the banking
system with the post office network, especially in the rural parts
of the country to move closer towards the goal of financial
inclusion.
He also asked the UIDAI to ensure that the coverage of Aadhaar is
adequate as per the roll out plan and no one is left out, and
Aadhaar number should be available on demand if beneficiaries are
getting left out.
"The funds that are provisioned for direct benefits like pensions,
scholarships and health-care benefits must reach the intended
beneficiaries without delays and leakages," the prime minister
said.
"Apart from these direct benefits, the government also provides an
amount of over 300,000 crore rupees in subsidies which too must
reach the right people," he added.
"Direct Cash Transfers, which are now becoming possible through
the innovative use of technology and the spread of modern banking
across the country, open the doors for eliminating waste, cutting
down leakages and targeting beneficiaries better."
"We have a chance to ensure that every rupee spent by the
government is spent truly well and goes to those who truly deserve
it," he added.
"They will need to digitize their databases, most of which are
with the states, and seed them with Aadhaar numbers. You will be
provided help by both the Unique Identification Authority and the
IT ministry. But, you will in turn need to assist the states," he
said.
Manmohan Singh underlined that the twin pillars for the success of
the system of scheme are the Aadhaar platform and financial
inclusion. "If either of these pillars is weak, it would endanger
the success of the initiative."
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