Lok Sabha Question No. 1507 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-25
Subject: Direct Benefit Transfer
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: ADVOCATE NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1507

TO BE ANSWERED ON:

25.07.2017

## DIRECT BENEFIT TRANSFER

1507    ADV. NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has decided to launch Direct Benefit Transfer of Fertilizer Subsidies from 1 st January, 2018 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the number of farmers identified by the Government for Direct Benefit Transfer, fertilizer State-wise;
- (a) the average number of times farmers are purchasing fertilizers in a year;
- (b) whether some glitches have come to the notice of the Government during implementation of DBT in some selected districts of the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  in  a  position  to  remove  the  glitches  and  has worked  out  a  full  proof  device  for  DBT  to  farmers  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS, SHIPPING, ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

(a): Yes,  Madam.  The  Government  has  decided  to  introduce  Direct  Benefit Transfer (DBT) system for fertilizer subsidy payments. Under the proposed fertilizer DBT system,  100%  subsidy  on  various  fertilizer  grades  shall  be  released  to  the fertilizer companies instead of the beneficiaries, on the basis of actual sales made by the retailers to the beneficiaries. Sale of all subsidised fertilizers to farmers/buyers will be made through Point of Sale (PoS) devices installed at each retailer  shop  and  the  beneficiaries  will  be  identified  through  Aadhaar  Card,  KCC, Voter Identity Card etc.

(b): Under the proposed DBT  Scheme, all farmers irrespective of their landholding will continue to get the fertilizers at subsidised rates.

(c): The  pilot  project  being  implemented  in  the  selected  districts  has  not  yet completed one year. As such, the average annual data is not yet available.

(d) & (e): There  have  been  certain  software  glitches  which  were  encountered during  implementation  process  due  to  slow  speed  of  servers,  poor  network connectivity and software application. These are addressed in time bound manner. The issues are resolved as under:

| Issue                                                               | Action taken                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Difficulties in Aadhaar authentication due to slow speed of servers | National Informatics Centre has recommended for installation of more servers. Action for procurement of servers has been initiated.                                                                      |
| Poor network connectivity                                           | The existing PoS devices supplied are being provided with multiple connectivity such as LAN, Wi fi etc. All new PoS devices are purchased only if they are equipped with multiple connectivity facility. |
| Software applications                                               | The NIC is resolving software issues as and when reported to them.                                                                                                                                       |

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