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With direct benefit transfers set to be further expanded from July this year,the finance ministry is hoping to improve the efficiency of the scheme and has asked public sector banks to ensure proper banking infrastructure in the 78 identified districts.
In addition,public sector lenders are also expected to set up ATMs in each of these districts and also provide debit cards to all beneficiaries.
The exercise should not be restricted to the 78 districts but also include the 43 districts that are already a part of the direct benefit transfer.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had last week announced that the direct benefit transfers would be expanded to include 78 more districts from July this year,while admitting to difficulties in monitoring the scheme. In this regard,he had also asked the finance ministry to ensure that front end banking infrastructure is in place so that people can easily open bank accounts and access their money.
To this end,the finance ministry has directed state owned banks to identify locations to identify sites as soon as possible so that ATMs at all branches in these 121 districts is operational by 30 June this year.
Banks would also need to undertake a focused programme for issuance of Debit Cards,particularly to the beneficiaries under the various schemes,so that they are able to draw the benefit as per their convenience, the missive further said,adding that account opening and issuance of debit cards must be completed by May 31 this year.
Under the new phase of the direct benefit transfers,in which about one fifth of the country would be covered,the government also plans to include three pension schemes of the rural development ministry and possibly cooking gas subsidy as well.
