Lok Sabha Question No. 2779 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Direct Benefit Transfer
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Harsimrat Kaur Badal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MTNISTRY OF GONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLTG DISTR|BUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2779 TO BE ANSWERED  ON tsrr{ DECEMBER,202{

## DIRECT BENEFIT TRANSFER

## 2779. SHRIMATI HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL:

l,Uill  the  llllinister of  GONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTIoil  srretrral erri, ur<-a  gik grftIfr6,  Bfr{ur d'* be pteased  to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has taken up Direct Benefit Transfer  pilot scheme in lieu of foodgrains  in parts of the country;
- (b)  if so, the details and the results in all such areas where Government had completed  the pilot scheme or their ongoing pilot scheme is going on;
- (c) the rationale behind starting Direct Benefit  'Transfer  pilot scheme in the country;
- (d) the details of benefits Government accrues out of the scheme;
- (e)  whether Direct Benefit Transfer scheme is a means to begin the era of non.procurememt  of foodgrains  from states like Puniab and Haryana; and
- (f) if so, the details thereofil

## ANSYUER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT Al{D coNslIMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD & PUBLTC DISTRIBUT|ON (sADHVr ]{TRANJAN JYOTT)

(a)&(b): A scheme of cash transfer of food subsidy directly into the bank account of beneficiaries  of Public Distribution  System anstead of providing foodgrains  is already being implemented  on a pilot basis in the three Union Territories  of Gharndigarft  and Puducherry since September,  2O15 and urban areas of Dadra anrd Nagar Haveli since.March,  2O{6.

(c)&(d): The Darect Benefit Transfer (DBT) experiment aims to (i) reduce the need for hug;e physical movement  of foodgrains (ii) provide greater autonomy to beneficiaries to choose their consumption basket (iii) enhance dietary diversity  (iv) reduce leakages (v) facilitate better targeting (vi) promote fi nancial inclusion.

(e)&(0: The scheme of cash transfer of food subsidy scheme is implemented  ae per provisions of the Gash rransfer of Food subsidy Rules, 2O15, notified under the National Food Security Acl, 2O13 (NFSA) on 21.oa.2o15  which inter alia provides  food subsidy in cash directty into the bank accounts  of entitled househotds  to enable purchase  of entifled quantity  of foodgrains from the open market. The scheme  can be taken up in identified  areas, subject to fulfillment  of certain  conditions  regarding preparedness  for its implementation  like comptete digitization  and deduplication  of beneficiary  database, seeding  of bank account  details in the digitized  beneficiary  database and availability of foodgrains in the open market. ldentified. area is defined under the Rules as state or Union Territory or any specified  area within the state or union Territory  for which there is a written consent of the state Govemment for implementataon of the scheme. lt is therefore optional for the States/urs  to implement  the cash transfer of food subsidy scheme or continue with distributaon  of foodgrains as per provisions of NFSA through fair price shops.