Lok Sabha Question No. 4922 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-31
Subject: Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: PREM DAS RAI, PARASURAMAN K., R. VANAROJA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4922

To be answered on Friday, March 31, 2017/Chaitra 10, 1939 (Saka)

## Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme

4922.  SHRI PREM DAS RAI: SHRI K. PARASURAMAN: SHRIMATI VANAROJA R:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  include  500  central  schemes  under  the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme during the next fiscal year and if so, the details thereof;
- b)  whether this move is aimed to check leak, raise efficiency in the distribution of subsidy and if so, the details thereof;
- c)  whether the Government has assessed the cost benefit  of  DBT and  if  so,  the details thereof and outcome thereon;
- d)  whether the Government has introduced modified DBT on LPG, if so, the details thereof; and
- e)  whether the Government has completed the extension of the scheme covering all  beneficiaries,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  total  number  of  beneficiaries under this modified scheme till date along with the total amount of fund incurred under this scheme by the Government?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a)  Yes,  the  scope of DBT has been expanded to include 'in kind' transfers as well as transfers to various 'enablers' of Government schemes like ASHA/ Aanganwadi workers etc.  It  has  been  decided  to  bring  all  welfare  and  subsidy  schemes  of the  Government under  DBT.  DBT  Mission  has  identified  more  than  500  Schemes/  Components  of  63 Ministries /Departments to be implemented through DBT mode in a phased manner by 31st  March,  2018.  Out  of  the  same,  90  such  schemes  of  19  Central  Ministries/ Departments  have  been  on-boarded  to  DBT  platform  as  on  20.3.2017.  A  monitoring framework  to  assess  the  preparedness  and  progress  of  on-boarding  has  been  put  in place. To facilitate DBT implementation, DBT Cells have been set up by 76 Ministries / Departments.

(b) Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) is a major reform initiative where benefits, in cash or kind, are delivered directly to accurately identified beneficiaries using  mostly Aadhaar as an identifier. It envisages efficiency and inclusion in the delivery processes leading to greater accountability and transparency in the system. (c)The  Central  Ministries  /  Departments  and  various  States  have  assessed  DBT implementation in their Welfare & Subsidy schemes and have reported saving in view of de-duplication, elimination of ghost beneficiaries etc. in the last three years. (d) & (e): Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had launched modified Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG (DBTL/PAHAL) Scheme in 54 districts on 15.11.2014 and across the country  on  01.01.2015.  LPG  consumers,  who  join  the  PAHAL  scheme,  get  the  LPG cylinders  at  non-subsidized  price  and  receive  LPG  subsidy  (as  per  their  entitlement) directly into their registered bank accounts. As on 27.03.2017, out of 19.81 crore active LPG consumers, 16.95 crore have joined the PAHAL Scheme. Subsidy amount of more than Rs. 46,000 crore has been transferred to the beneficiaries' bank accounts since its launch.

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