Sonia backs cash transfer scheme, calls it 'revolutionary'

Says Food Security Bill will be brought in Parliament soon

Congress president Sonia Gandhi today strongly backed the Centre's new Direct Benefit Transfer system that will ensure cash transfer directly in the hands of beneficiaries of various schemes, saying it is in line with many other "revolutionary" measures taken by the UPA.

Gandhi, who is also UPA Chairperson, announced her intent to bring the much-talked out Food Security Bill in Parliament soon to ensure that no poor family remains hungry.

She made the remarks while unveiling the Delhi government's ambitious food programme 'Annashree' under which monthly cash subsidy of Rs 600 will be transferred directly into bank account of the senior-most female member of two lakh poor families.

She said that the Annnashree programme does not aim at substituting the public distribution system but to "increase" the number of beneficiaries and reach out to them, who have been left out by the PDS.

"There are many problems related to the BPL list. There are a number of needy and poor families, who are not included in these lists. This scheme will provide food security to those who have been left out in the BPL list for some reason or the other," Gandhi said.

While hailing the scheme as the country's first totally Aadhar-based cash transfer programme, Gandhi chose the occasion to highlight the central government's Direct Benefit Transfer system, which will be implemented in 51 districts from January 1 facilitating cash entitlement in a total of 34 schemes.

"The purpose of this scheme is to ensure that the government's money being disbursed in pension, scholarship, MNREGA wage payment and social benefit schemes reaches the beneficiaries directly at their hands and without any delay. This money will reach directly into the hands of beneficiaries and not only up to bank accounts and post offices," Gandhi said.

The Congress President also made it clear that this cash transfer scheme is, however, not being implemented by the Centre in food and fertiliser subsidy programmes.

Gandhi also hailed the Land Acquisition Bill, which got the Cabinet's nod on Thursday, and announced that the much-talked about Food Security Bill will be brought in Parliament soon.