DBT Scheme Benefitted More Than 8 Lakh Tuberculosis Patients

Tuberculosis patients across the country received the benefit so far under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme. More than 8 lakh tuberculosis patients registered under Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY) have benefitted, said Minister of State Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey.

"As on January 1, 2019, out of 20.94 lakhs eligible beneficiaries, 8.78 lakh (42%) beneficiaries have received the benefit under the scheme," the minister stated in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

‘Flexibility in the payment of benefits to the TB beneficiaries has been provided to the States/UTs by the Central Government.’

The Minister also stated that the ministry has provided detailed guidance to the states and UTs on how DBT is to be operationalized.

"State/UTs have been given different payment options as per their convenience for either making payment directly through Public Financial Management System (PFMS) or through the Nikshay PFMS interface," he added.

"Flexibility of providing the benefit through existing bank account of a blood relative has also been given. State have also been advised to facilitate opening of zero balance accounts for TB patients, if necessary, under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) and Indian Postal Bank," Choubey said.



Source: IANS