Govt to expand direct benefit transfer to all welfare schemes

Hyderabad: In a move towards bringing more transparency in the implementation of welfare and development schemes, the State government is all set to introduce DBT (direct benefit transfer) system for all Centrally and State sponsored individual and community benefit programmes from this year. The newly announced Rs 8,000 fertiliser subsidy to each farmer in two instalments and sheep rearing scheme will also be brought under DBT system to ensure transparency.

All Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes developmental programmes would also be brought under the DBT system. Out of the nearly 50 individual benefit schemes, only 20 have so far been covered under DBT system. The State government has issued circulars to all departments to upgrade IT applications as the CGG has taken up the task creation of a portal for each department to update the beneficiary information.

The officials of the Finance department told The Hans India that on the directions from the Union government, all Centrally sponsored schemes, including NREGP, ICDS (Integrated Child Development Schemes) and National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) programmes would be networked with DBT system and update the details of the beneficiaries on the DBT portal regularly.

The entire data pertaining to the beneficiaries would be accessed by State and Union government. Similarly, all State sponsored schemes would also be brought under DBT programme. At present, government is disbursing benefits of the old age pension and Kalyana Laxmi through DBT system.

The government intends to bring Arogyasri, fee reimbursement and all self- employment schemes launched by Backward Classes, Schedueld Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Minority Welfare Departments under the purview of DBT. The government’s major objective is to maintain an official record of the total number of beneficiaries under various schemes.