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Manmohan Singh sets up architecture for cash transfers | In a move to cut down wastage, duplication and leakages and enhance efficiency, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has given a major push to transfer individual benefits from
the government directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries. This is to be
done in a fast track, accelerated mode to be achieved in a time bound manner.
The idea is to move to a completely electronic Cash Transfer System for the entire
population. In order to accelerate the process, which currently is being tried
in pilots on a small scale and whose results are very encouraging, the Prime Minister
has set up the architecture for moving to electronic Cash Transfers leveraging
Aadhaar. 1. Architecture for Cash Transfers: In order to speed up activity and
ensure that the shift to electronic Cash Transfers can be rolled out rapidly,
the Prime Minister has set up the Architecture for Cash Transfers which will be
the coordination mechanism. This architecture will consist of: 2. National Ministerial
Committee - under the Prime Minister with membership of all concerned ministers
(Finance, IT, Social Justice, HRD, Minorities, Labour, Health, Food, P&NG, Fertilizers,
Planning Commission, UIDAI,). This committee at the highest level would ensure
coordination and decision-making at the highest level and impart the necessary
urgency to the program. 3. National Executive Committee - with the Secretaries
of all concerned Ministries as members. This committee would meet frequently to
coordinate action, ensure adherence to time lines and sort out hitches in the
program as it is rolled out. 4. Implementation Mission and Committees - to work
on and finalise all operational and implementation details relating to the design
and operation of the transfer system. There is a lot work needed to have a smooth
roll-out and has to be done in a Mission mode with multiple agencies acting in
a coordinated manner. The Mission will have the following sub-committees: 1. Cash
Transfer Mission - Technology Committee -to focus on the technology, architecture
and IT issues. 2. Cash Transfer Mission - Financial Inclusion Committee - to focus
on ensuring Universal Access to Banking and achieving complete Financial Inclusion.
3. Cash Transfer Mission - Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Committees - to work
out the details relating to EBT such as data bases, transfer rules, controls,
audits, etc. There would be one for each Ministry, which is engaging in benefit
transfers. 4. The milestones and timeliness for each of these Committees will
be clearly laid down. The National Executive Committee will monitor progress and
ensure timely rollout. This scheme will have a momentous impact on the government's
various social programmes and help million of beneficiaries. 2. Background to
Aadhaar: With the rapid rollout of Aadhaar, now covering 20 crore people and rapidly
growing to 60 crores, and with the National Population Register covering the other
half, it is possible to move to a system of transferring cash benefits directly
to the poor. A Cash Transfer System can be used for transferring cash benefits
such as NREGA Wages, Scholarships, Pensions, Income support of other types and
Health Benefits. Electronic Transfer of Benefits (ETB) is a simple change as the
transfers are already taking place and the only modification that would be involved
is a movement from a paper based, cash driven system to an electronic direct transfer
system. Cash Transfer System would improve targeting, reduce corruption, eliminate
waste, control expenditure and facilitate reforms. 3. Pilots: The results of pilots
are encouraging. Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) has already begun in many cases.
The Government and RBI have issued Guidelines to Banks for implementation of EBT.
Pilots are under implementation, including in AP, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Rajasthan
, TN , WB, Karnataka, Puducherry and Sikkim.
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