The government will today roll out the Direct Transfer of Benefits into beneficiaries accounts in 20 districts. The scheme will begin in 11 more districts from the 1st of next month and in another 12 districts from the 1st of March this year. In a joint press conference with Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari, in New Delhi yesterday, Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram said initially there will be a direct benefit transfer in 7 schemes.

On a query, the Finance Minister clarified that credit and withdrawal from all accounts will take place irrespective of the fact whether they have AADHAR card or not. Mr Chidambaram said, the scheme will be rolled out in phases in other parts of the country during 2013 after it has stabilised in these 43 districts. In reply to a question, he clarified that food, fertiliser, diesel and kerosene subsidies will not be transferred in cash to beneficiaries under the scheme.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Tewari said, the scheme will benefit around two lakh people in the country.

Our correspondent reports that the scheme aims at providing benefits of several government welfare schemes directly to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts to plug leakages and reduce delays in their transfer.