Jharkhand has become the first state in the country to implement the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in Kerosene in four identified districts- Chatra, Hazaribagh, Khunti and Jantara from October 1. Under the DBTK Scheme, PDS kerosene is being sold at non-subsidised price, and, subsidy, as admissible, is being transferred to consumers directly into their bank accounts. The initiative aims at rationalising subsidy, based on the approach to cut subsidy leakages, but not subsidy per se.
This is part of a decision taken in the meeting of the National Committee on Direct Cash Transfer, held by the then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh that Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) will be rolled out from January 1, 2013 in 43 identified districts.
- The purpose of DBT is to ensure that benefits go to individuals’ bank accounts electronically, thereby reducing the delay in payment, ensuring accurate targeting of the beneficiary and curbing pilferage and duplication.
- The Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG (DBTL) or PAHAL (Pratyaksh Hanstantrit Labh) scheme is already in place, which was launched on June 1, 2013 and finally covered 291 districts.
- It required the consumer to mandatorily have an Aadhaar number for availing LPG Subsidy.
- Twenty-eight schemes were identified for DBT rollout in 43 identified districts from January 1, 2013. It was further decided that future benefits under all 28 schemes would be transferred in a phased manner.
Jharkhand
- Capital – Ranchi
- Chief Minister – Raghubar Das
- Governor – Draupadi Murmu
