PINPOINT DELIVERY

Direct benefit transfer has reduced fraud and improved the efficiency of the welfare delivery mechanism, ensuring the needy get timely benefits

- SONAL KHETARPAL

THE DRUDGERY

Availing government welfare scheme benefits was an ordeal, with rent-seeking at multiple stages—application, approval and distribution. Beneficiaries received shares as low as 30 per cent of the due amount while the rest was siphoned off as cuts by government officials. The welfare ecosystem was also marred by issues such as fund diversions, duplicate payments, complex sanctions, fraudulent claimants accessing benefits and the exclusion of deserving individuals. Not to mention the endless trips to government offices, collating numerous documents, securing multiple sanctions and greasing the palms of many individuals encountered along the way.

DIRECT BENEFIT TRANSFER (DBT)Launched on Jan. 1, 2013Achievement:Rs 2.14 lakh cr. disbursed through 1,016 schemes to 1,040 mn beneficiaries by Nov. '23

THE EASE OF LIVING

Launched 12 years ago, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has revolutionised the disbursement of welfare benefits, plugging the gaps that plagued the delivery mechanism in government schemes. DBT has become critical for central and state government transfers in cash that now account for some 4 per cent of the GDP.