As
all of you know that the Direct Beneficiary Transfer (DBT) is going to
implement on larger scale in all places.
The beneficiaries are going to receive their pension either through
Aadhaar linked bank or Post Office Saving Account instead of receiving through
eMOs.
This
Public Finance Management System (PFMS) formerly known as CPSMS (Central Plan
Scheme Monitoring System) is an initiative of Government of India to
eliminating the existing intervening layers in fund disbursement.
As
far as India Post is concerned it is a big challenge in different ways. Proper planning and precaution should be made
for the effective implementation of DBT through PFMS. Otherwise large amount of public agitation
will have to be faced by Post Office staffs.
Theoretically
it very easy and every one can implement this without any issue. But in reality it is not so easy. Following points should be read for
understanding why I have said that it is not so easy.
Challenges
in Technology
India
Post is using the same channel that they used in the EFMS in NREGA
payment. Present EFMS in Post offices is
not an error free mechanism even if it handles only limited volume of
accounts. So many issues are still there
to be solved in various Post Offices.
Complexity
in process is the main reason for the issues in the present EFMS. So many manual intervention and machine
processing is needed to credit an amount in accounts in Sub Offices. If anything wrongly happens either in HO side
or in SO side, the amount will not get credited in the corresponding accounts.
So
many external factors like proper net connectivity, performance of computers,
proper maintenance of communication module, etc. also determine the success of
a file transfer and it’s processing.
Even
in NREGA FTO with the lesser number of accounts is taking abnormal time for
processing in HOs where large numbers of NREGS accounts are opened in various
Sub Offices.
While
coming to DBT the volume would be very huge both in terms of number and amount
so it needs extra care for processing.
Processing huge number of FTOs at a single stretch will definitely
attract various types of transmission issues in eMO client since the system and
networks are very slow.
In
order to overcome this issue, special FTO processing strategy should be adopted
especially in HOs.
Counter
Management and Crowd Control
Abnormal
counter traffic in single time would be a main head ache in its
implementation. Unlike eMOs
beneficiaries or their representative will directly approach Post office for
withdrawing the amount from their SB Accounts.
The large number of people will assemble in the morning itself at the
Post Office counter and will ask for their amount before doing delivery related
works or Branch Office dispatch.
The
abnormal crowd in the counter will also affect the normal business of the Post
Offices. If it goes without any control
surely it will end with clash between PO staffs and public. In order to avoid these circumstances
controlled disbursement method should be adopted.
Crowd
can be controlled by giving limited number of token in Advance. The number of tokens should be decided
according to the work load and number of staffs in the office.
Allotting
separate day for a particular range of accounts is another solution. That means account numbers should be divided
into different groups and each group should be allotted with separate week days
for the disbursement.
Payment
through Postmen or delivery staffs is another way for easy and reliable way of
disbursement.
Most
of the beneficiaries approaching Post Office are may not be able to fill the
withdrawal slip independently. This is
another issue to be faced in the PO counter.
Difficulty
in Cash Management
As
far as B Class and C class offices which are not directly linked with any Bank
are concerned, the cash management is another issue in huge pension
disbursement. Earlier itself it was an
issue when huge numbers of pension money orders were received but a Postmaster
or Postmen can limit the payment according to the circumstances.
But
here Postman or Postmaster cannot predict the number of persons going to
approach the office on a particular day.
At the same time maximum cash limit of these offices are very negligible
compared to the actual requirements.
Timely
cash conveyance should be arranged inorder to avoid public agitation in this
special circumstance and maximum office should be attached with nearby Banks.
Chances
of Mistakes and fraud
This
is the most important concern in everyone’s mind because counter staffs cannot
identify the beneficiary with the help of signature in the withdrawal
slip. Most of the beneficiaries are
putting thump impression in the withdrawal slip. Matching thump impression is not possible at
present with available facility.
Photos
pasted in the passbooks can be used up to a certain limit to identify the
beneficiary but it is not practical in all situations.
Since
the separate rule is not formed for the pension payment through POSB,
withdrawing through messenger is another head ache for the counter staffs. Genuine and fake messengers cannot be
identified because of lack of signature.
Possibility of withdrawal by any of the family member without the consent
of the original beneficiary cannot be rejected.
Conclusion
Concerns
are not ending. But India Post needs to prove its ability to succeed in big
initiative like this since it a part of e-governance or Digital India
initiative. Officials in all levels
should study or handle this case very carefully and should approach very
practically otherwise it will be a big flop in all sense.
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