TO ADOPT EBT SYSTEM FOR ALL WELFARE SCHEMES
· TO CHECK RED TAPISM AND DELAYS
Chandigarh, May 18: The Punjab Government has issued instructions to directly credit the amounts of cash benefits in the bank accounts of benefficiaries under various welfare schemes of the government through the Electronic Benefit Transfer progressively to check delays and redtapism.
Disclosing this here today Social Security and Health Minister Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal said that the SAD-BJP Government in consultation with Reserve Bank of India has adopted the EBT model under which cash benefits to be disbursed to the beneficiaries would be directly transferred in their accounts. He said that Social Security Department had been giving cash benefits under various schemes like Shagun Scheme, Old Age Pension, Bebe Nanki Kanya Scheme and other financial assistance and it was felt that beneficiaries were facing problems due to late disbursal of amounts, cheques issued on wrong names or cheques issued after expiry of cheque. He said that Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal has directed that late disbursal of financial assistance loses its very purpose and therefore Finance and Institutional Finance Departments were asked to coordinate with RBI and other banks for online credit of financial assistance.
Mr. Mittal said that EBT system has been adopted under the Financial Inclusion Scheme of RBI. He said that Punjab Government has adopted single bank and single bank account for disbursal of benefits to the beneficiaries. Mr. Mittal said that department was gearing up to implement this scheme progressively. The Department had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Banks in concerned district and designated nodal department for coordination at district level. Business Correspondent would enroll all beneficiaries, open bank accounts and issued Smart Cards. Nodal Department would provide files electronically containing details of each beneficiary each month and crediting the required amount into the saving bank account. Lead bank will confirm credit to the nodal department. The Minister further stated that under the financial inclusion plan, advised by Reserve Bank of India, the designated Bank in the concerned district would appoint business correspondent to disburse the payment to the beneficiaries living in remote areas or villages having no banks nearer to their areas.
