February 28, 2013 Government is determined to plug in the leakages in the implementation of developmental programmes meant for the poor and the deprived of the country. To achieve this, the Government, which made a modest and cautious beginning on the 1st January, 2013, has announced rolling out of the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme throughout the country.

Making a promise to the poor to ensure handing over the money meant for them in their own hands, the Finance Minister Sh. P. Chidambaram said that nearly 11 Lakhs beneficiaries have received the benefits directly into their bank accounts. Giving example of the happiness of dalit and tribal students and pregnant women upon getting scholarships and maternity benefits, the Minister said that Government is redoubling its efforts to ensure that the digitized beneficiaries lists are available; that bank account is opened for each beneficiary; and that the bank account is seeded with Aadhaar in due course.

DSM/VK/Ombeer/25

(Release ID :92720)

Direct Benefit Transfer scheme to deliver social welfare directly by digitizing beneficiaries, enabling bank accounts and Aadhaar seeding nationwide. The Government will roll out the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme nationwide to reduce leakages by using digitized beneficiary lists, ensuring each beneficiary has a bank account, and progressively seeding those accounts with Aadhaar so benefits can be credited directly into beneficiaries' accounts.