PM Modi draws stiff deadlines to implement game changer DBT

Showing urgency to speed up the game changer direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme, Prime Minister Modi has drawn stiff lines for implementing it fully in the near future. 

Following review of DBT and Aadhaar by PM Modi on May 9, the cabinet secretariat has shot a letter to all the ministries instructing them to open internal DBT cells and in the states for facilitating transfer of their schemes on DBT by June 30, 2016.

Following PM’s orders, the cabinet secretariat has issued instructions that these cells may be headed by a joint secretary level or above officer and comprise of IT experts, coordinating with respective programme programme divisions and IFD for the DBT transition of schemes. 

The letter written by secretary (coordination and planning) in the cabinet secretariat Sanjay Kumar Srivastava also instructs ministries in clear terms that all DBT disbursal should be Aadhaar linked by December 31, this year and all subsidies and welfare schemes to be brought under DBT by March 31, next year.

Though DBT scheme was launched by Congress-led UPA government in January 2013, it could not become a delivery vehicle during the tenure of the last government’s tenure because of paucity of time and administrative tardiness.

While the basic aim of DBT was to bring transparency and terminate pilferage from distribution of funds provided by the central government, the Congress was also banking upon it to be a game changer in 2014 Lok Sabha elections like MNREGA in the 2009 elections.

Experts in the ministries agree that implementation of DBT that provides for subsidy money reaching directly into over 30 crore beneficiaries Aadhaar number linked bank account can shoot up PM Modi’s popularity before 2019 Lok Sabha elections. 

“PM’s keenness is understandable as full implantation of DBT will not only bring fiscal consolidation by saving thousands of crores of rupees from pilferage, it will also bring him accolades from crores of beneficiaries whose bank accounts would be fatter by several thousand rupees every year,” said an official working with DBT. 

The letter also indicates the same. “…DBT is being has gained momentum and its implantation is being monitored at the highest level….Now the scope of DBT has been expanded to include in-kind transfers as well as transfers made to various enablers of government schemes vide DBT Mission’s O.M. dated March 31, 2016.”