Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has undoubtedly emerged as one of the most successful weapon to fight pilferages taking place in social security benefits through middlemen, but if senior officials and doctors involved in family planning activities at district and state levels believe differently.
The Health Department officials are of a view that the DBT mechanism has come as hindrance in executing family planning measures at ground level due to the technicalities involved.
“Women still are way ahead in adopting family planning than male, due to a number of reasons. This took a leap after incentives were added to a beneficiary and motivator like ANMs and Shaiyas. When DBT was not launched, the entire cash incentive (now Rs. 1,400) used to go in the hands of the lady itself who has undergone family planning process. But after DBT was launched, the same amount started landing in the accounts of the man of the house and the woman was not able to use it according to her wishes. In number of cases the motivation level has been dropped in rural areas,” said Ranchi Civil Surgeon Dr Shiv Shanker.
Though admitting that DBT has proved to be one of the most successful tools to keep middleman away, he said women in rural areas across country lacked bank accounts of their own and remained largely depended on their male partner in this regard.
“This is why we are working on two things. First, we try to encourage women to get a bank account opened during their counseling days, so that by the time family planning processes come to completion and the DBT comes into picture, a woman has her account operative. Second, we are trying to find out whether there is any way to transfer the benefit to women instantly at least partially if not fully,” said Shiv Shanker.
Director of Health Services Pravin Chandra however felt that family planning drive in the State was picking up gradually, and fund availability was nowhere any issue in this. “There is no restriction of budget as such, and we are ready to distribute incentive to as many motivators and beneficiaries as they come. Good thing is that men have also started understanding the importance of family planning and they are actively taking part in it,” said Chandra.
He said, “A number of myths related to men opting family planning tools are now vanishing, thanks to educative efforts and awareness drives we carried out across the state, which is there to continue. It is true that cash lures anyone, especially to less educated women form a village, as cash means a lot to them. But the percentage of those going for family planning only for cash has remained at lower side.”
Jharkhand carries good record in terms of birth control in comparison to many states in India. “We are working hard to keep Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) low, and family planning plays an important role in it,” said Chandra.