Kerala Ready for Direct Cash Transfer (DCT) of Subsidies

Nov 28 2012
Kochi

Kerala two districts Wayanad and Pathanamatittha are on the list of 51 districts where direct cash transfer (DCT) of subsidies will begin in January 2013 – are moving fast to complete all pre-requisites to launch the programme. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reiterated that the January deadline will remain unchanged. Although there has been no formal communication, Kerala State IT Mission (KSITM) did receive an e-mail from the regional office of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) asking if the nodal agency was prepared to implement DCT.

The two districts were chosen as 90% of the total population were enrolled. While there were instances of duplication in National Population Registry (NPR) in Wayanad, there would be no duplication of UID numbers said officials. However, generating numbers for overlapping applicants could take up to five months.The state government spends around Rs 700 crore per annum as subsidy, but, unofficial estimates suggest that around Rs 350 crore worth of goods are being siphoned off. Authorities are preparing a database of NREGA beneficiaries in Wayanad and Pathanamthitta. At present, 2,852 beneficiaries of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act Scheme in Wayanad and 5,526 in Pathanamthitta have registered for Aadhaar-enabled payment system. KSITM is likely to suggest that DCT scheme can also be implemented in Ernakulam after it became the first district in the country to achieve 100% financial inclusion.

Source-http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-28/kochi/35410009_1_direct-cash-transfer-kerosene-subsidy-wayanad

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