OPINION: Congress to ensure, the Direct Cash Transfer may not remain a political gimmick

It may be noted that “Conditional Direct Cash Transfers” were started in quite a few Latin American countries in 1990s and gathered impetus in early 2000 onwards. Thus, it is neither a landmark nor pioneering or path-breaking event. Even the UPA-II needs to explain why they have missed out qualifying the plan by prefacing “Conditional” either by default or deliberately.

The purpose of direct benefits transfer, all over India is brilliant, to ensure that benefits go to individuals bank accounts electronically cutting down delays and diversions. But by past record of implementation, by original conception, the plan does not inspire confidence.

Moreover, the timing of announcement is highly controversial. Why did the UPA-11 government take such a long time to announce the plan – almost after a lapse of 9 year rule or a decade lost or a generation to suffer?  Deprivation and poverty continues to rule supreme. Who is to be blamed? Voters must answer by giving a befitting reply.  

After all, direct transfer plan has been implemented in far more backward nations like African and Latin American nations nearly almost a decade ago as part of UN schemes. None of them can claim to be IT powers. “Gharibi Hatao”, as a slogan, was used to maintain a stranglehold on majority of poor over the past 40 years. Yet, poverty in actual numbers has only increased.

At the same time, it is definitely a big challenge to the banking sector to reach to the remote areas so that beneficiary should have money at the place of his residence but it looks that the slogan - Aapka paisa, aapke haath (your money, in your hands) - has been quickly coined around the scheme, as a vote catching gimmick.

In this new system, the possibility of reforms is much than the existing system as the technology being used is new.  No doubt, in computerisation of ticket reservation, the black mailing of tickets has not been completely stopped but it has definitely been reduced and further chances of its improvement are bright.  Moreover, with the use of the Adhaar card as the basis for identification, the chances of misuse of government funds with the direct benefits transfer scheme would not be possible.

Anyhow, the government’s ambitious scheme of direct cash transfer of subsidy to bank accounts of beneficiaries should be welcomed to bring more efficiency in the system.

In sum, the basic issue remains unanswered – will the Direct Cash Transfer deliver by the end of 2013 or will it remain as in the past a mere political gimmick to fool the gullible voter – the Aam Admi.

(Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author in this article are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of City Air News.)