-The Financial Express The massive scale and complexity of major subsidy schemes are likely to delay the ambitious plan of limiting state subsidy on food, fertiliser and petroleum products only to the poor by directly transferring cash to their bank accounts using a unique identity number (Aadhaar). While other cash payments like pension, scholarship, wage under rural job guarantee scheme can be transferred directly to the beneficiary’s bank account, it is difficult...

-PTI The Odisha government today said its cheap rice scheme would not be affected after the Centre introduced direct cash transfer to beneficiaries. "We do not feel that the state government's Rs 2 a kg rice programme will be affected. This is because the Centre has decided not to include food subsidies in the direct cash transfer system in the first phase," said state Finance Secretary J K Mohapatra. Mohapatra said the direct...

-The Hindu A day after the Union Government rolled out cash transfer for subsidies and entitlements, Jan Sansad, a coalition of more than 60 people’s movement, rejected it for being “anti-people”. Terming the scheme “an attempt by the government to wash off its hands from the responsibility to provide basic services and Social Security to its citizens”, the coalition said direct cash transfer will have disastrous impact on the lives of the...

-The Times of India The Congress moved with alacrity on Tuesday to put the stamp of its "hand" on 'direct cash transfers', calling it an election promise fulfilled and lining up Rahul Gandhi to lead the celebrations in the build-up to the launch of what it sees as a "game-changing" scheme. Finance minister P Chidambaram and rural development minister Jairam Ramesh chose the Congress party platform to announce the launch of the...

-IANS Nearly 71 per cent of India's elderly aged between 60 to 80 years are compelled to work, said a survey conducted by United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) India. The survey, partnered with many other organisations, noted that 71 per cent elderly work due to economic necessity and not by choice, and that there is a close link between current work participation and poverty and illiteracy. The survey was done in seven...