Direct cash transfer panel set up

To smoothen and fast track the introduction of direct cash transfer to beneficiaries of different government schemes, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday appointed a high-powered committee named National Committee on Direct Cash Transfers that will be headed by the Prime Minister himself.

The committee will have 11 Cabinet ministers, two ministers of state with independent charge, the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, chairman UIDAI and the Cabinet Secretary as its members.

According to a government statement, “The committee would provide an overarching vision and direction to enable direct cash transfers of benefits under various government schemes to individuals leveraging the investments being made in the Aadhaar project  financial inclusion and other initiatives of the government.”