Delhi kickstarts direct cash transfer scheme

The government has made it clear that money will be transferred to beneficiaries when they provide Aadhar (Unique Identification card) and bank account numbers, HT reports.

The Delhi government rolled out its flagship direct cash transfer programme on Tuesday with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit distributing certificates to around 50 beneficiaries.

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The government has made it clear that money will be transferred to beneficiaries when they provide Aadhar (Unique Identification card) and bank account numbers.

Dikshit said out of 34 schemes launched by the central government for direct cash transfer, only nine are relevant in Delhi.

She said Delhi has already implemented this scheme for its Annashri Yojna in which a cash subsidy of Rs.600 is provided to vulnerable households.

"It will eliminate chances of any delay and irregularities in delivery of the benefits to the needy. It also overcomes duplication of beneficiaries," said Dikshit.

"Two of these schemes are meant for women and the idea is to empower them by allowing direct cash transfer," said Vandana Jena, senior advisor planning commission.

"The beneficiaries of four schemes — post-matric scholarship for SC, post-matric scholarship for OBC, Indira Gandhi Matritava Sahyog Yojna and Janani Suraksha Yojna — have been brought under a system which eliminates chances of corruption and bogus beneficiaries," added Dikshit.