The Manipur Finance department has authorised Airtel Payment Bank as an alternative channel for disbursements of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to beneficiaries for proper implementation of DBT in the state.
State chief secretary Rajesh Kumar stated in a memorandum that considering the outreach in far flung areas, Airtel Payment Bank has been considered a viable option for the beneficiaries to open their accounts and to receive their benefits especially for remote villages where proper banking facilities are still lacking.
“In order to enable beneficiaries of various welfare schemes of the state and Central government to avail DBT, it has become paramount to explore various payment methods and to allow the beneficiaries the option to avail these benefits with a financial institute of their choice,” it added.
The office memorandum requested all implementing departments of DBT to include Airtel Payment Bank as an option for the beneficiaries to open their accounts for availing benefits under DBT.
The Direct Benefit Transfer was started in January 2013 in an effort to reforming government delivery system of welfare schemes for “simpler and faster flow of information and funds to ensure accurate targeting of the beneficiaries, de-duplication and reduction of fraud”.
