Chief Secretary emphasises timely Aadhaar seeding of DBT schemes

SRINAGAR: In a significant push towards greater transparency and efficiency in public services delivery, Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, on thursday emphasized upon all the concerned departments to embark on a time-bound ambitious drive to complete Aadhaar seeding for the remaining beneficiaries within the next two months.

This critical initiative aims to ensure that the benefits directly reach the deserving, effectively eliminating the role of middlemen.

The meeting was attended by the Administrative Secretaries of the concerned departments besides officers from the Finance Department.

The Chief Secretary underscored the dual benefits of this accelerated Aadhaar seeding remarking that it isn’t just about transparency; it’s about empowering our citizens by ensuring that every rupee of assistance reaches those it’s intended for, without any dilution or diversion.

Further beyond the direct benefit transfer, the Chief Secretary highlighted Aadhaar seeding as a fundamental prerequisite for widespread adoption of SNA-SPARSH. This innovative “just-in-time” fund release system, soon to be mandatory for all Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) being implemented across the country, promises to revolutionize the financial management and optimize fund utilization.

To facilitate a seamless transition, he directed the departments to nominate the dedicated liaison officers. These officers will undergo specialized training by the financial experts within the Finance department, equipping them to navigate the intricacies of the new SNA-SPARSH framework.

On the occasion, Principal Secretary, Finance, Santosh D. Vaidya, provided a detailed overview of various Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes currently operational across the departments. He offered valuable insights into the current status of Aadhaar seeding for each scheme and laid out a clear roadmap for achieving complete coverage.

Vaidya also elaborated on the strategic plan for a smooth transition to SNA-SPARSH, with active support and collaboration from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). He designated the contact persons for each Department who would lend a helping hand in ironing out all the obstacles faced during the course of action taken by respective departments.

The review highlighted significant strides, with an overall Aadhaar seeding percentage of 55.2% across 76 schemes, encompassing a grand total of 7,883,610 beneficiaries.

The meeting, focusing on “DBT Bharat” and “Apna Adhikar, Apne Dwar” initiatives of the GoI, underscored the government’s commitment towards ensuring efficient and transparent delivery of benefits directly to the intended recipients exclusively.

While giving out department-wise progress, it was given out that most of them showcased notable progress in Aadhaar seeding. Social Welfare Department was informed to had achieved an impressive 96% Aadhaar seeding, with 1,392,359 out of 1,445,462 beneficiaries seeded. Key schemes included Ladli Beti (100%), Post Matric Scholarship to OBC (100%), Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (100%) and Integrated Social Security Scheme (ISSS) (100%).

The Labour and Employment Department was reported to have achieved 100% Aadhaar seeding across all its listed schemes, including Chronic Disease Assistance, Death Assistance, Education Assistance, Funeral Assistance, and Medical Assistance, with a total of 4,543 beneficiaries seeded.

The Education Department demonstrated 59% Aadhaar seeding, with Mid-Day Meal Scheme showing 100% seeding for 985,267 beneficiaries. Other schemes like Meritorious Student and National Scholarship also achieved 100% seeding.

Similarly, the Rural Development Department had achieved 93% Aadhaar seeding for a total of 1,198,381 beneficiaries. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) has 98% Aadhaar seeding, covering 1,081,860 beneficiaries.

Besides, the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department: Reported 100% Aadhaar seeding for the scheme providing subsidized sugar to PHH categories. The Health & Medical Education Department was given out to achieve 60% Aadhaar seeding overall. Schemes like ASHA Incentives, Family Planning Compensation Cases, Janani Suraksha Yojana, Nikshay Poshan Yojana and NIKSHAY-DOT Provider Honorarium all reported 100% Aadhaar seeding.

The Agriculture Department showed an overall 58% Aadhaar seeding.

The meeting also assessed Aadhar seeding of DBT schemes of other departments including Animal/Sheep Husbandry Department, Horticulture Department, Housing and Urban Development Department, Finance Department, Skill Development Department, Youth Services and Sports Department, Industries and Commerce Department and Tribal Affairs Department.