Key Highlights:

• India’s Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system lauded globally as a “logistical marvel.”
• DBT utilizes digital infrastructure to directly transfer government scheme benefits, covering 310 schemes across 53 ministries.
• The JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile) post-2017-18 maximized DBT’s impact.

Dignity of the Poor:

• DBT’s overlooked benefit is its preservation of the dignity of the poor.
• Without corruption or leakages, DBT eliminates the need for the poor to parade for government benefits.
• Shift in approach—government benefits reaching the poor directly without intermediaries.

Poverty Perspectives and Historical Context:

• Discussion on poverty perspectives, referencing Michael Young’s “The Rise of The Meritocracy.”
• Challenge to the prevailing view that poverty is an individual’s fault, offering an alternative, rights-based approach.
• Advocacy for understanding poverty from an individual rights perspective and addressing historical contexts.

Rights-Based Approach to Poverty:

• Recognition of basic security rights for citizens regarding food, shelter, and health.
• Emphasis on shared societal responsibility for poverty, especially by the rich and elite.
• Contrast with technical solutions, highlighting the need to work with the poor.

Preserving Dignity in Design:

• Importance of not just providing benefits but also considering how they are delivered.
• DBT as a mechanism that ensures rightful benefits reach the poor while preserving their dignity.
• Elimination of the poverty parade with the government reaching the poor.

Replicating DBT Success:

• Suggestion to replicate the DBT design in other areas, with a focus on the judiciary.
• Reference to the judiciary’s challenges and an appeal to ensure justice reaches the poor efficiently.
• Call for collective efforts to address complex problems.

Challenges:

• Unquantifiable nature of preserving dignity makes it challenging to measure its impact.
• The need for broader societal shifts in perspectives on poverty and shared responsibilities.

Key Phrases:

• JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile)
• Poverty parade
• Rights-based approach
• Shared societal responsibility
• Technical solutions vs. working with the poor
• Veil of ignorance (Rawlsian perspective)
• Dignity preservation in program design

Critical Analysis:

• Emphasis on the overlooked aspect of preserving dignity brings a unique perspective.
• The article challenges prevailing views on poverty, advocating for a rights-based approach.
• DBT is presented as a successful model, but challenges of replicating its success are acknowledged.
• The article connects poverty perspectives with societal responsibilities and justice delivery.

Key Examples and References for quality enrichment of mains answers: 

• Michael Young’s “The Rise of The Meritocracy”
• The Tyranny of Experts by William Easterly
• Reference to the judiciary’s challenges and the appeal of the first woman tribal President.

Key Data and Facts:

• 310 government schemes across 53 ministries utilize DBT.
• Estimated savings of 1.14% of GDP attributed to DBT.
• 79,813 cases pending before 34 judges in the judiciary.

Key Terms:

• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
• JAM Trinity
• Rights-based approach
• Poverty parade
• Veil of ignorance
• Shared societal responsibility

Way Forward:

• Advocacy for applying DBT’s success in other sectors, particularly the judiciary.
• Acknowledgment of complexity but a call for collective efforts to address challenges.

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