The scope of the Direct Benefit Transfer programme has been significantly widened by the government to cover third party cash transfers to various enablers of government schemes such as community workers, NGOs and self help groups.

Real-time transfers This will be a shot in the arm for the programme that has made monthly cash transfers of ₹7,000 crore to beneficiaries for 56 schemes.

“Apart from plugging leakages in transfers, this will also ensure that undisbursed funds are not parked with States or implementing agencies. Transfers can be made on a real-time basis and monitored till the very last level,” said an official familiar with the development.

“During interactions, it was realised that the scope of the DBT can be expanded to include all welfare and subsidy schemes operated by all the ministries and departments of the Government of India directly or through implementing agencies, which involve cash or kind benefits’ transfers to individuals,” said an official missive from the DBT Mission.

Starting this month, the ambit of DBT, which was traditionally considered as a means for only cash transfers to beneficiaries, has been expanded to transfers in kind as well.

Scheme review Further, payments to agencies and workers associated with government schemes would also be through DBT.

These would include ASHA and anganwadi workers as well as school teachers and sanitation staff who are not the beneficiaries but are given wages, training, incentives for their services to the community.

Review roadmap At a recent meeting on the issue, the DBT Mission which has now moved to the Cabinet Secretariat from the Finance Ministry has asked all Departments and Ministries to review their schemes and work out a transition roadmap for payments through the Public Financial Management System.

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