'Cash transfer only in dists where readyness fool proof'

The government's ambitious direct cash transfer scheme would be rolled out only in those districts where preparations are fool-proof, a Finance Ministry official said here today.

The government had earlier said it would implement the cash transfer programme from January 1, 2013 in 51 districts. "The rollout would be in only those districts and for only those schemes for which preparations are fool-proof," the official told reporters here. Also read: FM to review preparatory works for cash transfer scheme The government has proposed to rollout the direct cash transfer (DCT) scheme meant for providing subsidy and other welfare schemes to the desired beneficiaries by transferring money to their Aadhaar-enabled bank accounts. The direct cash transfer scheme has been introduced to prevent leakages and corruption in implementation of social welfare related schemes. "As of now, we have identified 51 districts and 39 schemes, but these are not final. We have made full preparations. "However, some of the districts and schemes may not be covered in the first phase of rollout. But we are committed to the success of the direct cash transfer scheme," the official said. Finance Minister P Chidambaram will visit a few of the selected districts before January 1, 2013 to take stock of the preparations for the first DCT rollout. The government had received complaints about direct cash transfer scheme for the beneficiaries of kerosene oil subsidy in Alwar district of Rajasthan. The project had started in Alwar district on a pilot basis in December 2011. There had been complaints about non-receipt of cash in the beneficiary accounts