Govt eases norms for quicker direct benefit transfers

"In the case of schemes covered under DBT, where the fund flow is directly from the Central Government to the beneficiaries', the intimation from the bank or National Payments Corporation of India (Aadhaar Payment Bridge System) regarding deposit of funds in the beneficiaries' bank accounts may be treated as a Utilisation Certificate," a Finance Ministry circular said.

The Ministry or Department releasing the grant should keep proper record and accounts relating to such direct releases under DBT to the beneficiaries' bank accounts, it added.

The government launched its ambitious Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) programme on January 1 this year. The welfare plan was initially rolled out in 20 districts and covered seven schemes, mostly scholarships, and is likely to have benefited more than 2 lakh people.

The programme was expanded to another 11 districts on February 1 and further 12 more districts will be added on March 1.

A total of 43 districts in 16 states have been identified for the first round of DBT that will cover 26 social welfare schemes.

However, while launching scheme earlier, Finance Minister P Chidambaram had said that the government will look at other schemes and subsidies that can shift to DBT mode in 2013 but will do so carefully and keeping in mind the capability of the system to cope with more schemes.