Jammu, Nov 26 (IANS): The Jammu and Kashmir government Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the local Jammu and Kashmir Bank for direct benefit transfer (DBT) into the accounts of beneficiaries of central and state government schemes.

The MoU envisages implementation of DBT and electronic benefit transfer (EBT) scheme for transfer of government entitlements under various central sector/centrally sponsored schemes, directly into the beneficiaries' accounts.

The scheme would be started in all the 22 districts of the state, but in the first phase the scheme is being launched in six pilot districts of Ganderbal, Jammu, Kargil, Leh, Rajouri and Srinagar.

In the pilot phase, the beneficiaries of old age pension scheme are being covered under DBT/EBT roll out.

After the first phase roll out in six districts, the remaining 16 districts will also be covered by EBT in quick succession for the entire population of beneficiaries numbering about 1,30,000 presently.

The Planning Commission has so far launched DBT/EBT scheme in 121 districts across the country where significant enrolment work under Aadhaar card has been done. However, none of the districts of Jammu or Kashmir was so far covered.

The state government has taken this initiative ahead of the formal launch of the scheme in Jammu and Kashmir by the Planning Commission.

This decision is being seen as an important step towards benefitting over ten lakh beneficiaries through seamless transfer of government entitlements, whether in the form of cash benefit or subsidy, directly into their bank accounts across the state.

The Planning Commission has identified 29 central schemes to be covered under DBT/EBT of which about 23 schemes are being implemented in the state presently.

Besides central sector schemes, the Integrated Social Security Scheme (ISSS), a state scheme benefiting about four lakh people is also proposed to be covered under DBT/EBT.