Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, on Saturday termed the direct cash transfer scheme as pure magic. Inaugurating the 1,000th branch of the State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, Mr. Chidambaram said the scheme would ensure that government funds reached the intended beneficiary.
“People have called it a gamechanger, a revolutionary idea, etc. But I say it is pure magic,” said Mr. Chidambaram.
Earlier, when a Central ministry released funds, it could never ensure their delivery to the rightful last-mile beneficiary. Even if complaints were made, it took a long time for them to be redressed, he said. “However, with the direct benefits transfer scheme, money released from Delhi immediately reaches the bank account of the intended beneficiary. It is just like magic,” he said.
“From January 1, 2013, the scheme will be rolled out in several districts across the country and by the end of the year we hope the scheme will cover all districts of the country,” said Mr. Chidambaram.
He, however, urged people to give the scheme some time to work.
“The responsibility of ensuring the success of this scheme rests on the banks and they are fully capable of doing the job like they did in the case of agricultural and educational loans,” he said.
Govt seems set it's eyes on elimination of corruption and pilferage. But if the beneficiaries are not educated with the scheme before-hand, then every efforts goes into vain.
PC said in November 'It is a game changer',now he says 'It is pure magic'we wonder what he would call it in Jan.PC feels that anything done by the government without pilferage or
corruption is a pure magic action.In reality the poor card holders spending the money in advance and getting reimbursed by the bankers are the ones who should have to do the 'rope tricks' before drawing their money in their accounts,especially from
State banks who may ask for photographs,address proofs, specimen signatures etc.
Before India, other countries have implemented it. Pakistan has benzir support scheme which transfers money to benificiary. We are very poor in copying good schemes. We are also late in understanding importance of good scheme and so take long long time in identifying and implementing good schemes already implemented in states or other countries. Examples are NREGA and Mid day meal schemes. These were implemented in Maharashtra & Tamil nadu respectively some 25- 30 years back.
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