Lucknow, 13 June (HS): The Uttar

Pradesh government said on Friday that its National Family Benefit Scheme,

which is aimed to help poor and vulnerable families, has been made more

transparent, efficient, and user-friendly. Eligible families no longer have to

make many trips to get financial help. According to the administration, the

whole procedure, from application to payment, is now computerized and

transparent at all stages.

According to the new system, the government would ensure that recipients

receive financial assistance within 75 days of applying, it added. In the event

of a delay, instead of dragging the matter through long procedures, clearance

will be requested immediately from the district-level committee to allow for

rapid payment.

This means that needy families will

no longer have to wait for state-level clearances, providing quick relief to

individuals who have long waited for help, according to the administration. To

guarantee successful execution, district social welfare officials have been

assigned critical tasks. They must check that the applicant has not already

received help under the scheme, it added. The government stated that once

verified, a final list of qualified recipients will be compiled and presented

to the approval committee within seven days.

The approved list will then be posted to the site with digital signatures.

Funds would be routed to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts via the Public Financial

Management System (PFMS). The administration also said that in the event of

budgetary limits, district magistrates might allow payments in accordance with

Treasury procedures to avoid delays in benefit disbursement.

Special arrangements were

established for emergency situations. In

such circumstances, the district magistrate and social welfare officer would

use digital signatures to authenticate applications, allowing for rapid payment

upon approval, according to the statement. The helpline number (14568) has been

activated at the command center for grievance redressal, where recipients may

submit their grievances. The administration stated it has also emphasized

extensive marketing of the initiative.

Lists of recipients and eligibility requirements will be made public at

tehsil-level gatherings. Hoardings, posters, and handbills would also be

employed to achieve maximum outreach and benefit to as many people as possible,

it stated. On the technical front, advancements are ongoing. Similar to

scholarship plans that need Aadhaar seeding confirmation, the Family Benefit

Scheme will soon include Aadhaar-based live verification to rapidly verify

account status, guaranteeing transparency and real-time tracking, it added.

The administration stated that it

remains committed to reaching every poor household and making their life

easier. The National Family Benefit Scheme provides financial assistance of Rs

30,000 to the dependant family member of a dead earning head (aged 18 to 60

years) if the family's yearly income does not exceed Rs 56,460 in urban areas

and Rs 46,080 in rural regions. The Uttar Pradesh government claims that by

making this plan more open and effective, it ensures that no qualified

household is left behind. The government

alone spent Rs 326.64 crore on assistance for 1,08,883 bereaved families in FY

2024-25, according to the report.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi