The UPA government on Sunday rolled out the Direct Benefits Transfer Scheme (DBTS) at a remote village in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh launched the Aadhar-enabled scheme under which the money meant for the beneficiaries of MGNREGP (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme) and Social Security pensions will be directly deposited in their respective bank accounts.
Speaking on the occasion, Ramesh described the scheme as “historic and revolutionary” that has the potential to change the face of India and to eradicate corruption in the delivery of welfare benefits. “By the end of August this year, every Gram Panchayat, Mandal and district will be on the micro ATM network. You need not run to banks or post-offices to get money. Money will come to you at your doorstep," the minister told a gathering of beneficiaries.
“There is no scope for corruption here because we will be using biometric system for authentication,” he said. Anganwadi workers and primary school teachers could be roped in as “business coordinators” who would withdraw the amounts from the banks and post offices and hand over to the beneficiaries at their doorsteps. “We are starting the scheme from East Godavari as we have all the systems in place here.
The beneficiaries have been identified, bank accounts opened and banks and post offices better prepared. We are already starting payment of old age and widow pensions through this system.
The ceremony was held at Gollaprolu village amidst much fanfare in the presence of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, Home Minister P Sabita Indra Reddy, Minister for Stamps and Registration T Narasimham, local MP Harsha Kumar and senior officials. To mark the launch of the scheme, the Union Minister handed over the pension amount of Rs 500 to Nilla Satyanarayana, a physically challenged person, using a micro ATM.