Zero balance accounts for funds through EBT

A pilot project has been taken up targeting March 31 next year as the deadline for completion of zero balance accounts for all households in South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Burdwan, Bankura, Purulia and Cooch Behar districts.

"Interest of beneficiaries will be protected and transparency maintained with the introduction of EBT through zero balance accounts of villagers," West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra said here today.

"EBT will ensure efficient and transparent distribution of government funds to beneficiaries under state and central government programmes. This will also make distribution of government funds free from corruption," Mitra said after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a meeting with bankers and district magistrates.

The chief minister stressed that this be implemented in the chosen districts within the target period.

The chief minister also decided to set up a task force to review progress of work on a monthly basis, besides a weekly review by the finance secretary.

Mitra said that the bankers agreed to cooperate with the state government's initiative, besides fulfilling targets to provide villagers with loan and credit through Kishan Credit Cards (KCC).

Stress was also given to achieve desired results by Self Help Groups within the target period, he said.