The dream of thousands of beneficiaries of getting benefits transferred directly into their bank accounts from July 1 may turn sour for lack of optimum level of preparedness by respective district administration of three newly added pilot districts of Jharkhand.
As per the directive issued by Chief Secretary RS Sharma, district administrations were asked to make preparations to effect transfer of benefits given under various schemes of National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) from the first day of July. However, barring Khunti, the other two phase-2 pilot districts- lohardaga and Bokaro- look grossly under-prepared.
Of all the three phase-2 districts, Khunti with as many as 6,510 seeded accounts is way ahead compared to the remaining two districts. The district is said to be ready to dole out benefits directly into 6,510 beneficiaries' accounts. The benefit scheme will be rolled out by Principal Secretary, Information Technology, NN Sinha tomorrow.
"Transfer will begin from tomorrow. We achieved the figure despite a host of limitations and difficulties," said Mukesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Khunti. While the Khunti district administration is beginning transfer of benefits in all schemes of NSAP, the lohardaga administration is likely to begin with Indira Gandhi Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS).
"We have made preparations. Transfer of benefit will start with old age pension scheme," said Sudhanshu Bhushan Ram, Deputy Commissioner, lohardaga. Besides IGNOAPS, NSAP covers Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme, Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme, National Family Benefit Scheme and Annapurna scheme.
Incidentally, the Khunti district administration is likely to begin direct transfer of benefits to as many as 5,000 beneficiaries employed under MNREGA. "We have seeded the accounts of around 5,000 registered workers who have come for work in last three years," said Kumar adding "Ranchi has topped the list of districts in direct transfer. However, we may march ahead if we overcome some glitches."
According to sources, while Khunti completed seeding of 6,510 beneficiaries' accounts, Bokaro has achieved only one and lohardaga nil.