New Delhi: The Center has introduced an e-Rupee with the aim of improving transparency in various welfare schemes offered by the government and providing benefits directly to targeted services. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched this digital payment solution that can be used by individuals as well as for specific purposes. The e-rupee facility is currently available for health services and will be extended to other sectors in the near future. AYUSHMAN BHARAT, Fertilizer subsidy is also likely to be used.
The country is setting new standards in digital governance through e-rupee. The e-Rupee voucher is going to play a significant role in making digital transactions as well as direct cash transfer (DBT) more efficient. It will contribute to providing transparent, non-leakage benefits to all targeted communities,” the Prime Minister said at the launch of e-Rupee.
Prevent leakages
Government benefits to the specified beneficiaries, without waste (leakage). The Center has been launching various schemes over the last few years to reach out to the target groups. The electronic voucher now available will further support the development of a governance vision. The Prime Minister explained that this is not a matter for the government alone and that private companies or organizations that want to help anyone with their medical treatment, education, or any other purpose can give in the form of e-rupees in lieu of cash.
He added that this would allow the money to be used for the same purpose for which the money was given. He explained that the government and private companies could use this leakage-free mechanism to reach out to those who need specific benefits such as vaccination. The Prime Minister also directed the states to use e-vouchers to bring welfare schemes closer to the specified beneficiaries. He said the private sector could also use the benefits of these digital vouchers for their employees’ welfare and corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.
The Prime Minister said that by giving the subsidy amount directly to the beneficiary’s bank accounts (DBT) for cooking gas, ration goods as well as other welfare schemes, massive leaks could be curbed as well as counterfeit beneficiaries. He said it had helped the government save Rs 1.78 lakh crore. Explaining the usefulness of DBT during the Corona lockdown, the Prime Minister said that Digital India’s integration with JAM (Jandhan account, mobile phone, Aadhaar card) had enabled the transfer of money directly into the accounts of crores of beneficiaries with a single click.
He noted that even in developed countries, the physical system is still being used for this purpose. The Prime Minister said Rs 17.5 lakh crore had been transferred directly to bank accounts for more than 300 schemes offered by the Center so far since the launch of the DBT platform. About 90 crore people are benefiting from this DBT platform for things like ‘cooking gas subsidy,’ pensions, PM Kisan scheme, scholarships. As a result, Rs 1.78 lakh crore has been saved by preventing government subsidy money from going into the pockets of illegals. The Prime Minister said that India, along with all the rich countries in the world, has the potential to provide world leadership in terms of innovation in the design of services and the use of technology.
1 Comment