Economic Survey 2013: 8216;DBT scheme not to substitute for delivery of public services8217;

The survey further said the DBT scheme is designed to improve targeting,reduce corruption,eliminate waste,control expenditure,and facilitate reforms.

The plan was introduced on January 1,2013 with seven schemes in 20 districts. 8220;India has embarked on a DBT scheme in selected districts wherein it has been envisaged that benefits such as scholarships,pensions,and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act MGNREGA wages will be directly credited to the bank or post office accounts of identified beneficiaries,8221; the survey said.

It further said the benefits of DBT will reach the target groups faster and minimise inclusion and exclusion errors as well as corruption that are associated with manual processes.

Meanwhile,Chief Economic Advisor Raghuram Rajan today said the DBT scheme could reduce government8217;s expenditure.

Recently,Finance Minister P Chidambaram had said the government is determined to extend the scheme,currently being implemented in 51 districts,to more than 700 districts by this year.