PM sets up the Architecture for Cash Transfers - Thrust to improve targeting & reduce wastage & leakages and increase transparency

In a move to cut down wastage, duplication and leakages and enhance efficiency, the Prime Minister has given a major push to transfer individual benefits from the Government directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries. This is to be done in a fast-track, accelerated mode to be achieved in a time bound manner. The idea is to move to a completely electronic Cash Transfer System for the entire population.

In order to accelerate the process, which currently is being tried in pilots on a small scale and whose results are very encouraging, the Prime Minister has set up the architecture for moving to electronic Cash Transfers leveraging Aadhaar.

1. Architecture for Cash Transfers

In order to speed up activity and ensure that the shift to electronic Cash Transfers can be rolled out rapidly, the Prime Minister has set up the Architecture for Cash Transfers which will be the coordination mechanism. This architecture will consist of:

(i). National Ministerial Committee - under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister with membership of all concerned ministers (Finance, IT, Social Justice, HRD, Minorities, Labour, Health, Food, P&NG, Fertilizers, Planning Commission, UIDAI,). This committee at the highest level would ensure coordination and decision-making at the highest level and impart the necessary urgency to the program.

(ii). National Executive Committee - with the Secretaries of all concerned Ministries as members. This committee would meet frequently to coordinate action, ensure adherence to time lines and sort out hitches in the program as it is rolled out.

(iii). Implementation Mission and Committees - to work on and finalize all operational and implementation details relating to the design and operation of the transfer system. There is a lot work needed to have a smooth roll-out and has to be done in a Mission mode with multiple agencies acting in a coordinated manner. The Mission will have the following sub-committees:

(a). Cash Transfer Mission - Technology Committee -to focus on the technology, architecture and IT issues.

(b). Cash Transfer Mission - Financial Inclusion Committee - to focus on ensuring Universal Access to Banking and achieving complete Financial Inclusion.

(c).  Cash Transfer Mission - Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Committees - to work out the details relating to EBT such as data bases, transfer rules, controls, audits, etc. There would be one for each Ministry which is engaging in benefit transfers.

The milestones and timeliness for each of these Committees will be clearly laid down. The National Executive Committee will monitor progress and ensure timely roll-out.  This scheme will have a momentous impact on the government's various social programmes and help million of beneficiaries.

2. Background to Aadhaar:

With the rapid rollout of Aadhaar, now covering 20 crore people and rapidly growing to 60 crores, and with the National Population Register covering the other half, it is possible to move to a system of transferring cash benefits directly to the poor.

A Cash Transfer System can be used for transferring cash benefits such as NREGA Wages, Scholarships, Pensions, Income support of other types and Health Benefits. Electronic Transfer of Benefits (ETB) is a simple change as the transfers are already taking place and the only modification that would be involved is a movement from a paper based, cash driven system to an electronic direct transfer system.

Cash Transfer System would improve targeting, reduce corruption, eliminate waste, control expenditure and facilitate reforms.

3. Pilots

The results of pilots are encouraging. Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) has already begun in many cases. The Government and RBI have issued Guidelines to Banks for implementation of EBT. Pilots are under implementation, including in AP, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Rajasthan, TN, WB, Karnataka, Puducherry and Sikkim.

12th Plan Priority for Rabies Control

Acknowledging that Rabies is a major public health challenge in India, the government proposes to make it a priority disease for control under the 12th Five Year Plan.

A Viral Zoonotic Disease primarily infecting domestic and wild animals, rabies spreads to people through close contact with Infected Saliva via Bites and Scratches. There is no treatment available globally after the disease develops. An estimated 20,000 deaths occur annually in India due to rabies.

While Dogs are the main Host and Transmitters, others responsible for the disease are cat, mongoose, monkeys and such other warm-blooded animals.

Strategies to prevent death due to rabies were developed through a pilot project during the 11th Plan and these strategies are Proposed to be Implemented countrywide in the 12th Plan . The 11th Plan Targeted Reduction of Rabies Deaths in Humans by at least 50 per cent by the end of the Plan period in the pilot project that covered Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Pune, Madurai and Delhi.

As of now, India does not have a Comprehensive National Rabies Control Programme. Various organizations are involved in control activities without any inter-sectoral coordination. The existing prevention activities are being carried out by municipal bodies, but no tangible results have been achieved.

Experience gained from the Implementation of the Pilot Project indicates that the Strategy is Feasible, Reproducible and Implementable. It is now proposed to roll out a Comprehensive Control Strategy for both Human and Animal components in the 12th Plan. All 35 States/UTs will be covered for the human component and the animal component will be piloted in selected 30 cities.

The programme will include Training Health Professionals to Deal with Animal Bites, Awareness Creation and Minimising Animal Bites. On the veterinary side, the Focus is on Sterilisation and Vaccination of Dogs, with a larger involvement of civil society and municipal bodies.

Advocating the need for greater awareness of the disease, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says Children and Poor People are particularly vulnerable.

The disease claims 55,000 human lives across the world every year, mostly in Africa and Asia. The number of Animal Bites in India, however, is not reliably known, though some studies have estimated it to be as high as 17.4 million a year. The last survey conducted by the Association for Prevention and Control of Rabies in India in 2003 was supported by the WHO and it put the number of Deaths at 20,000. About 90 per cent of the Mortality and Morbidity here is associated with dog bites.

Modern, Safe and Effective Anti-Rabies Cell Culture Vaccines are being used for post-exposure treatment in India after the government banned the production and use of nervous tissue vaccine in December 2004. Intradermal Rabies vaccination has been promoted at the State level in designated rabies clinics.

The WHO says prevention of human rabies is possible through Mass Dog Vaccination, Promotion of Responsible Dog Ownership and Dog Population Control Programmes with a partnership approach. Many countries in South America and Asia have successfully used this strategy to eliminate transmission of rabies.

However, this is a challenge for India as it has a large population of dogs (around 25 million) and very low vaccination coverage.

 ( The Hindu )

Simla Agreement, the 2nd July, 1972

1. The Government of India and the Government of Pakistan are resolved that the two countries put an end to the conflict and confrontation that have hitherto marred their relations and work for the promotion of a friendly and harmonious relationship and the establishment of durable peace in the sub-continent, so that both countries may henceforth devote their resources and energies to the pressing task of advancing the welfare of their people.

In order to achieve this objective, the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan have agreed as follows:

• That the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations shall govern the relations between the two countries.
• That the two countries are resolved to settle their deferences by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations or by any other peaceful means mutually agreed upon between them. Pending the final settlement of any of the problems between the two countries, neither side shall unilaterally alter the situation and both shall prevent the organisation, assistance or encouragement of any acts detrimental to the maintenance of peaceful and harmonious relations.
• That the pre-requisite for reconciliation, good neighbourliness and durable peace between them is a commitment by both the countries to peaceful co-existence, respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.
• That the basic issues and causes of conflict which have bedevilled the relations between the two countries for the last 25 years shall be resolved by peaceful means;
• That they shall always respect each other's national unity, territorial integrity, political independence and sovereign equality;
  That in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, they will refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of each other.

2. Both Governments will take all steps within their power to prevent hostile propaganda directed against each other. Both countries will encourage the dissemination of such information as would promote the development of friendly relations between them.

In order to progressively to restore and normalise relations between the two countries step by step, it was agreed that :

Steps shall be taken to resume communications, postal, telegraphic, sea, land including border, posts and air links including over-flights. Appropriate steps shall be taken to promote travel facilities for the nationals of the other country.Trade and co-operation in economic and other agreed fields will be resumed as far as possible.Exchange in the fields of science and culture will be promoted. In this connection delegations from the two countries will meet from time to time to work out the necessary details.

3. In order to initiate the process of the establishment of durable peace, both the Governments agree that:

• Indian and Pakistani forces shall be withdrawn to their side of the international border. In Jammu and Kashmir, the line of control resulting from the cease-fire of December 17, 1971, shall be respected by both sides without prejudice to the recognised position of either side. Neither side shall seek to alter it unilaterally, irrespective of mutual differences and legal interpretations. Both sides further undertake to refrain from the threat or the use of force in violation of this line.
• The withdrawals shall commence upon entry into force of this agreement and shall be completed within a period of 30 days thereof.

4. This agreement will be subject to ratification by both countries in accordance with their respective constitutional procedure and will come into force with effect from the date on which the instruments of ratification are exchanged.

5. Both Governments agree that their respective heads will meet again at a mutually convenient time in the future and that in the meanwhile the representatives of the two sides will meet to discuss further the modalities and arrangements for the establishment of durable peace and normalisation of relations, including the questions of repatriation of prisoners of war and civilian interness, a final settlement of Jamm u and Kashmir and the resumption of diplomatic relations.

Indira Gandhi ( Prime Minister Republic of India )  

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto ( President Islamic Republic of Pakistan )