AMN / WEB DESK
In a big accolade for the Narendra Modi government’s Direct Benefit Transfer scheme, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has termed it a ‘logistical marvel’ considering the sheer size of the country.
IMF’s Deputy Director of Fiscal Affairs Department, Paolo Mauro said that while there is a lot to learn from countries across the globe, India’s DBT scheme is quite impressive. Mauro said that the way DBT programme that seeks to help people who are at low-income levels reach hundreds of millions of people is a logistical marvel.
The IMF Deputy Director said there are programmes that target specifically women or the elderly and farmers and praised the technological innovation involved in these programmes.
IMF’s chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said that India has emerged as a bright light at a time when the world is facing imminent prospects of a recession. Gourinchas noted that India needs some key structural reforms to achieve the ambitious target of a 10 trillion dollar economy.
The chief economist also applauded India’s digitisation efforts terming it a game changer. He said that digitisation is helping along a number of dimensions including the promotion of financial inclusion.