To mark the next evolution in welfare delivery to the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), Government of India has launched the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) – Digital Rupee (e₹) for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) at the Union Territory of Chandigarh today.
The initiative aims to weed out the middlemen from government-run beneficiary schemes meant for poor people.
Punjab Governor and Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, Gulab Chand Kataria, Union Agriculture Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister of Education, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Prahlad Joshi and Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya together launched the scheme at a programme.
While addressing the gathering, Mr. Joshi said that the central government is spending more than Rs 2.10 lakh crore on the distribution of free ration to the needy. He said, middlemen have been excluded, with the money directly transferred to the accounts of the beneficiaries.
The minister said that the CBDC transfer process is transparent and easy. Anyone having a smart or simple phone can operate to receive the benefits.
Speaking on the occasion, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said that the country has plenty of food grains stock. He said, the government is making it sure that what our farmers are producing must reach the poor as well.
Our correspondent reports that with this launch, Chandigarh has become the first Union Territory in the country to undertake a full-fledged roll-out of CBDC-based DBT for food subsidy.
The dignitaries also launched the same scheme virtually for Dadra and Nagar Haveli from Chandigarh.
