Last Modified: Wed, Sep 07 2016. 02 33 PM IST
Now, direct benefit transfer scheme updates are only a click away
The direct benefit transfer portal will provide information about 74 government schemes and 17 ministries
Suranjana Roy
In 2016-17, the total number of DBT transactions stood at more than 63.15 crore and the value of these transactions were worth more than Rs.26,692.53 crore. Photo: Bloomberg
New Delhi: The recently launched direct benefit transfer (DBT) portal is a key platform for all administrators to access information on all Central and states’ welfare schemes. It will also give regular updates on the work being done in real time. It will also enable beneficiaries to eventually access details about the subsidies available to them. Although still not fully operational, Mint looks at some of the key features and information available on this website.
The website for the portal launched last month is dbt.bharat.gov.in.
It showcases information about the progress being made under each scheme (classified under their controlling ministry) in terms of the number of transactions under DBT and the value of those transfers. The portal also makes a demarcation between Aadhaar and non-Aadhaar-based transactions. All documents related to DBT and circulars on the various meetings by the government are also uploaded on the website.
This DBT portal will build in a feedback and grievance redressal mechanism.
According to the portal, a total of 74 schemes and 17 ministries are part of the DBT. In 2016-17, the total number of DBT transactions stood at more than 63.15 crore and the value of these transactions were worth more than Rs.26,692.53 crore.
However, the portal is still a work in progress as far as integration of all databases for all schemes and districts are concerned. Once that is done, tying up with the different state DBT cells will be the next step.
Since its inception in 2013, maximum contribution towards the transfers have come from PAHAL, or the DBT scheme for cooking gas subsidy and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) till June 2016, as per the portal. The total number of beneficiaries stood at 16.91 crore with disbursed subsidies amounting to Rs.39,682.03 crore under Pahal.
Under MGNREGS, there were 10.88 crore transactions involving Rs.61,275.58 crore of payments to workers.
West Bengal, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh are the top six states making the highest transfers under the two schemes. The percentage of beneficiaries seeded with Aadhaar under all schemes stood at 68.41% for the mentioned period with PAHAL and MGNREGS again surpassing other schemes with 77.4% and 67.08%, respectively.
The DBT mission was started in 1 January 2013 with an aim to disburse the subsidies directly into the beneficiary’s account to avoid any duplications and also for plugging the leakages in the system. The Centre recently asked all states to set up their own DBT cells to ensure a smooth flow of disbursal and better targeting of beneficiaries.
Many states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Jharkhand, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan have already opened up DBT cells.