The backbone of our country is its agriculture, providing the essential resources for all living beings to survive. However, farmers face numerous challenges like climate change, pests, diseases, irrigation, and the hefty investments they make in their farms. It’s disheartening when their hard work is ruined, as farming is their sole income source.
To assist farmers in leading sustainable lives, our government has initiated several schemes, offering scholarships and pensions. In this article, we’ll understand Direct Benefit Transfer in agriculture, often called DBT agriculture. We’ll also explore its benefits for farmers and how it contributes to their well-being.
What Is DBT Agriculture?
DBT Agriculture stands for Direct Benefit Transfer in Agriculture. DBT offers a more straightforward and equitable method of providing financial assistance to citizens. Instead of relying on complex and potentially unjust procedures, the government deposits funds directly into individuals’ bank accounts.
The previous system had significant flaws, with wealthier individuals sometimes taking money intended for those in need. To rectify these issues and ensure fairness, the government initiated DBT Agriculture.
DBT transfers funds directly into bank accounts linked to people’s Aadhar cards, often called Jan Dhan accounts. This approach greatly benefits individuals who require financial assistance. The government has selected 34 distinct programs to distribute funds via Direct benefit transfer, effectively replacing the older system plagued by corruption problems.
When was the Direct Benefit Tax (DBT) Started?
Direct Benefit transfer was launched on 1 January 2013 under the former government. The program was launched in the selected cities by the former union minister for rural development and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who inaugurated the scheme at Gollaprolu in the east Godavari district on 6 January 2013.
The first phase of DBT commenced in 2014, initially covering 43 districts. It primarily focused on providing scholarships and social security pensions. However, by December 2014, its reach expanded nationwide. The DBT umbrella also encompassed the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and 34 other schemes.
Objective Of DBT Agriculture
DBT Agriculture’s main aim is to change how the government gives benefits and subsidies to Indian farmers. To explain its purpose better, here are some other things DBT wants to do:
- Efficient Money Distribution: The program’s main focus is to give money to people below the poverty line more easily and quickly.
- More Transparency: It starts by clarifying things and preventing dishonest officials from taking the money themselves.
- Direct Benefit Delivery: In this system, the Indian government strives to provide funds directly to beneficiaries, eliminating fraudulent practices.
- Streamlined Process: DBT has modernised the traditional methods, making the entire process significantly faster, simpler, and more secure by cutting out intermediaries and identifying duplicate or fake beneficiary identities.
Which Schemes Come Under Direct Benefit Transfer?
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) is now a crucial part of the Indian government’s strategy to simplify how they provide subsidies and benefits to their citizens. Additionally, DBT encompasses 310 schemes from 53 ministries, with some significant ones listed below:
- PM Kisan Scheme: The PM Kisan Scheme aims to increase the income of small and medium farmers. Additionally, it provides them with financial aid totalling Rs 6,000 annually, distributed in three Rs 2,000 instalments every four months, starting from April and continuing through July, August to November, and December to March.
- Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana: Within the DBT Agriculture framework, an essential program is the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. It’s designed to help farmers by providing insurance claims when their crops fail due to unusual weather conditions. Moreover, the government encourages farmers to register for this scheme to recover their losses.
- National Food Security Mission: In July 2013, the government initiated the National Food Security Act to offer heavily discounted food grains to a substantial part of rural (75%) and urban (50%) populations via the Targeted Public Distribution System.
- The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture: NMSA was set up to boost agricultural productivity, focusing on areas where farming depends on rainfall.
- National Livestock Mission: The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying has initiated a program to improve the livestock sector to generate employment opportunities by promoting entrepreneurship.
Some other non-agriculture schemes that come under DBT are:
- Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin
- Atal Pension Yojana
- Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mann-Dhan (PM-SYM)
- Green India Mission National Afforestation Programme
- Khelo India
- Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushalya Yojna
Who Can Apply For the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme?
The Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system sends financial aid or support to individuals below the poverty line. Those who do not genuinely need the subsidy will not receive it through this program, ensuring that the assistance goes to those requiring it.
Steps To Complete DBT Scheme’s Registration?
The DBT Agriculture scheme’s primary goal is to provide financial support directly to farmers through their Jan Dhan bank accounts. So, below are the step-by-step instructions for registering for the DBT Agriculture scheme:
- Check Your Eligibility: Ensuring your eligibility is crucial before commencing the registration process for the DBT Kisan Yojna. Generally, eligibility criteria may vary from state to state; however, small-scale farmers, marginal farmers, tenant farmers, and landless labourers are typically eligible for this scheme.
- Collect Required Documents: You will need certain essential documents to register for the DBT Agriculture scheme in India. Additionally, these include your Aadhar Card, bank account details (a copy of your passbook or a cancelled cheque), and land ownership documents. A Ration Card is optional.
- The Online Application Process: In India, most states have online portals for DBT agriculture scheme applications. Moreover, find your state’s website on Google or Yahoo, and follow the instructions to apply online. So, remember to link your Aadhar-linked bank accounts using Internet or mobile banking.
- Application Status: After applying, you’ll get a confirmation email or text. You’ll also receive an application ID. So, you can track your application’s progress on the portal by entering this ID.
- Receive benefits on approval: If your application gets approved, so you’ll receive the benefits promised under the DBT Agriculture scheme.
How Has DBT In Agriculture Benefited The Farmers?
DBT in agriculture has made a big positive impact on farmers. Initially, it aimed to help poor and disadvantaged farmers financially. So now, let’s explore some of the lesser-known advantages of the DBT program in agriculture.
- Greater Access to Subsidies – The DBT agriculture scheme has reduced middlemen’s involvement and curtailed corruption. Hence, funds related to the scheme are now directly deposited into beneficiaries’ bank accounts, reducing corruption and the misuse of government funds.
- Enhanced Financial Inclusion for Farmers – The DBT in the agriculture scheme has played a significant role in digitising banking services in India. It has also encouraged mobile banking and other services, even in remote areas.
- Improved Fairness in the System – Greater transparency in the system has reduced corruption and mismanagement, increasing farmers’ trust. This transparency has also helped economically disadvantaged farmers feel more connected to the larger economy.
In addition to the above-mentioned points, the DBT in agriculture scheme has positively impacted the lives of Indian farmers by increasing their access to government schemes and subsidies, ultimately improving their overall well-being.
What is the DBT Scholarship?
The DBT Scholarship is part of the Direct Benefit Transfer Program, which aims to help students. So, the Indian government introduced DBT to combat corrupt practices in subsidy distribution. Additionally. this program provides subsidies in different areas, including agriculture, education, fuel, and oil.
Conclusion
DBT represents a groundbreaking effort to help people below the poverty line. It offers support through various government schemes, particularly benefiting impoverished farmers. Moreover, agriculture is crucial in a diverse country like India; many farmers rely on government assistance to survive.
However, before DBT, corrupt middlemen took advantage of innocent farmers. Moreover, while DBT has great potential, some obstacles must be resolved to make it more effective and dependable for those it serves.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is DBT in Agriculture?
Ans. DBT is a Government of India program introduced on January 1, 2013, to streamline subsidy distribution by directly depositing subsidies into beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
2. What are the main objectives of DBT Agriculture?
Ans. The main aim is to deposit payments directly into Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, eliminating malpractices like diversions and duplicates.
3. What is the PM Kissan Scheme?
Ans. The PM Kisan Scheme aims to boost the income of small and medium farmers, offering them Rs 6,000 annually in three instalments of Rs 2,000 each in 4 months.
4. What are the main schemes that come under Direct Benefit Transfer?
Ans. The main Direct Benefit Transfer schemes are PM Kisan, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, National Food Security Mission and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana.
5. Can a person below the poverty line apply for a DBT Scheme?
Ans. No, The DBT system provides financial help to people below the poverty line.
6. What are the documents required for the DBT Scheme’s Registration?
Ans. For the DBT Scheme’s Registration, applicants need an Aadhar card, a passport-size photo, and a copy of a bank passport. Additionally, in the case of SC/ST/OBC applicants, a copy of the caste category certificate is required.
7. What is the DBT Scholarship?
Ans. DBT Scholarship, under the Direct Benefit Transfer Program, supports students and addresses subsidy distribution corruption. It covers various sectors such as agriculture and education.
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