Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Sunday launched the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of Aadhar-Enabled Payment System (AEPS) scheme at Gollaprolu village of East Godavari district.
The scheme aimed at beneficiaries of pensions, MGNREGS, PDS, Child Labour, stipend distribution, Janani Suraksha Yojana and scholarships has been launched on pilot basis. Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh paid the pension amount to Nilla Satyanarayana, a physically challenged person, using a micro ATM. He also paid wages using micro ATM to MGNREGP workers on the occasion.
During the first phase of the scheme, about 7,000 beneficiaries will receive pension in Gollaprollu and Polavaram mandals of the district.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister hoped that the DCTS scheme would be properly implemented once it is launched across the State. He claimed that nearly five crore Adhaar cards have already been distributed in the State. He said that the beneficiaries of the present DBT scheme could buy ration from any PDS shop and draw money from the micro ATMs. He praised Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for introducing the innovative schemes that would directly benefit crores of people.
The Chief Minister also announced that the government proposes to supply four or five more commodities including salt, Red Gram and tamarind through Fair Price shops from Ugadi festival. He also ridiculed the criticism that providing Re 1 per-kg rice was leading to the rise in prices of other essential commodities. He also denied reports that the State Government has reduced the number of welfare schemes.
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh described the Direct Benefits Transfer Scheme as the world’s largest experiment in administrative reform. He admitted that the implementation would face several hurdles at banks, post offices and online connectivity. However, he said that efforts were being made to plug all loopholes.
Talking to reporters later, Jairam Ramesh said that the proper implementation of the scheme would completely reform the welfare delivery system in the country. He also announced that every gram panchayat, mandal and district would be on the micro ATM network by the end of August this year.
Home Minister P Sabita Reddy, MPs Undavalli Arun Kumar and G Harsha Kumar, ministers, MLAs and senior officials were also present on the occasion. (INN)