Aapka Paisa Aapke Haath

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi briefed partymen on the working of the ‘cash transfer scheme’ and asked them to work proactively to ensure its success. Congress expects to reap political dividends from UPA government’s project of directly transferring money spent on subsidies and welfare scheme to the people. It plans to make it the election slogan in 2014. Gandhi held a training session of state unit presidents and district Congress committee presidents of 51 districts where the government would launch the ambitious scheme on January 1. Clearly indicating that the party is looking at the scheme to bring in electoral gains in the 2014 parliamentary elections, Gandhi told workers ‘Aapka Paisa Aapke Haath’ would be a political slogan for the party as the government was confident about effective implementation of the scheme. The 150-minute meeting at Congress’ ‘war room’ at 15 Rakabganj Road was also attended by senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Janardan Dwivedi, Shakeel Ahmed and Gulchain Singh Charak. Senior Ministers P Chidambaram and Jairam Ramesh briefed about 170-odd party workers on the details of the scheme. Gandhi spoke to party workers in detail, emphasising the need to pass on the message to the common man and own up the scheme as Congress’ big ticket measure to fight corruption. Congress does not want the scheme to go the way several flagship programmes have, where state governments claim credit for centrally-funded projects. Gandhi told party workers that he would tour all 51 districts and hold meetings. “You should work proactively and take steps like linking beneficiaries with Aadhar network and ensuring they have opened bank accounts. You could help them in this work so that they remember it is Congress that is doing this,” Gandhi reportedly told party workers. District Congress committee presidents raised several questions, including lack of adequate banking facilities, difficulty in opening bank accounts and faulty BPL lists. “We heard problems raised by district Congress presidents. We will work towards resolving these issues,” Ramesh told reporters. Gandhi also recalled the famous statement by his father, and former prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi that only 15% of schemes meant for the beneficiaries reach them while the rest land in the hands of middlemen. “If we are successful in this system, 100 out of 100 rupees meant for the beneficiaries will reach them,” Gandhi said. Congress, facing flak from the Opposition over corruption and economic reforms agenda, is hoping direct benefits transfer scheme can be for UPA-II what NREGA was for UPA-I. The scheme has raised hackles in the Opposition camp already. BJP cautioned the government against using direct benefits transfer as a Congress scheme and alleged it is making a mockery of the Election Commission by going ahead with the policy despite warning from the poll panel. “There has been no effect on Congress of the Election Commission's orders. It is going ahead with the policy despite warnings from the Commission. There are polls in Gujarat. This money is the taxpayers' money, including that belonging to the people of Gujarat,” BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said. He alleged that Congress was treating it as a scheme of the party. “Rahul Gandhi has held meetings with district chiefs to discuss the cash transfer scheme...”