The Centre’s direct cash transfer scheme will help in better targeting of subsidies and reducing the delay in delivery of benefits besides curbing wastages and leakages, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here today.
Addressing the 8th Civil Services day, Singh said his government has made sustained efforts to curb corruption and enhance transparency and accountability in public works.
He also said the government needs to make full use of new and modern technology not only in delivery of public services but in governance in general.
“A good example of such use is the Aadhar programme for providing all the residents of our country a unique identity, and also the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme based on Aadhar numbers that our government launched a few months back....
“It will lead to better targeting of subsidies and reducing delays in the delivery of benefits such as scholarships and pensions to the intended beneficiaries. It will also help in curbing wastages and leakages, and result in greater financial inclusion,” Singh said.
The Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme now covers 121 districts of the country.
“I think it is also important to recognise the fact that programmes like DBT scheme also give a sense of empowerment to the people, increase their faith in the processes of governance and therefore have a larger positive effect than can be measured by the direct advantages they give,” he said asking the bureaucrats, involved directly or indirectly in its implementation, to ensure the scheme is a success.
Cash transfer of subsidy
The DBT scheme provides for cash transfer of subsidy from the government directly to an Aadhar-linked beneficiary’s bank account.
“Our government has also made sustained efforts to curb corruption and enhance transparency and accountability in the work of public authorities. There are several legislative initiatives that we have taken in this regard, for example the Right to Information Act, the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill and the Whistleblowers Protection Bill.
“These are intended to also help in improving the standards of delivery of public services in our country,” the PM said.