Question : DIRECT BENEFIT TRANSFER

(a) the details of the schemes against which benefits under the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme have been moved to the accounts of the beneficiaries so far, State/ UT-wise;

(b) whether the Government also proposes to provide debit cards to all such beneficiaries;

(c) if so, the details thereof along with the number of debit cards issued to the beneficiaries till date, State/UT-wise; and

(d) whether any proposal for delivery of benefits of the scheme in unbanked areas of the country is under consideration of the Government and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/being taken to deliver the benefits to each and every beneficiary at the earliest?

THE FINANCE MINISTER (SRI P. CHIDAMBARAM)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 453 due for 26.04.2013 REGARDING “DIRECT BENEFIT TRANSFER” RAISED BY SHRI NIKHIL KUMAR CHOUDHARY and SHRI SULTAN AHMED

(a) The amount of funds transfer to beneficiaries for the identified schemes under DBT from 1st January to 31st March, 2013 through APB was Rs. 22.9 crore and through non-APB was Rs. 57.1 crore. Details are placed as Annexure I and II.

(b) & (c) Banks have been advised to issue Debit Card to all beneficiaries under the Direct Benefit Transfer Schemes. As per the information received from Indian Bank Association (IBA), the State/UT –wise position of Debit Cards issued to beneficiaries by Public Sector Banks in 43 Pilot Districts as on 12th April, 2013 is at Annexure III.

(d) Department of Post has targeted to provide Core Banking Solutions (CBS) to Post Offices in the identified districts by 30.09.2013. This will allow electronic transfer of funds to Aadhaar linked Post Office Savings Accounts of beneficiaries from 1.10.2013. This will be a significant step in the direction of taking benefits under DBT to the unbanked areas of the country.