Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on performance audit on direct benefit transfer: Government of Haryana
Direct Benefit Transfer is a major reform initiative by the Government of India to ensure better and timely delivery of benefits from Government to the people. This marks a paradigm- shift in the process of delivering benefits like wage payments, fuel subsidies, food grain subsidies directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries, removing leakages and enhancing financial inclusion i.e. extension of financial services to the unbanked areas and providing universal access to banking services across the country. As a step in technology enablement, all benefits transferred in cash or in kind, are captured and adequately represented as a part of an aggregation web interface. The financial implication of the shortcomings as analysed from data provided by the Department was ₹ 237.31 crore. Audit observed deficiencies like enrolment and payment to ineligible beneficiaries (deceased, underage or enrolled in other schemes), multiple beneficiaries enrolled under same Aadhaar id or without Aadhaar id, transfer of benefits to account other than beneficiaries account which indicates not only inadequate controls but lack of effective verification and monitoring by the concerned authorities. Direct Benefit Transfer was not implemented across all departments and schemes. DBT cell failed to coordinate with all Departments in compiling a list of schemes and programs, including conduct of secondary research to ensure comprehensive listing. DBT cell could not get the holistic picture of saving, in the absence of specific guidelines.
