PM to hold National Panel meet on Direct Cash Transfers

New Delhi, Nov 26: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will hold the first meeting of the National Committee on Direct Cash Transfers on Monday to decide the roadmap and timelines on implementing direct cash subsidy scheme.

The Committee was set up by the Prime Minister under his chairmanship to give thrust to roll out the cash transfer programme across the country through Adhar based system.

Initially the scheme will be rolled out in 51 districts from 1st January next year.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Saturday said that the government intends to complete roll out of the direct cash transfer through the Aadhaar system in the entire country by the end of 2013.

Subsidies on LPG, kerosene, pension payments, scholarships as well as payments under MGNREGA and other government welfare schemes would be transferred directly to the beneficieries.

Unique Identity Development Authority of India will set up a dedicated cell of technical experts to facilitate Aadhar enabled Direct Cash Transfers and help individual Ministries.