Mumbai: A Direct Benefit Scheme (DBT) which was started by the state government with an aim to benefit tuberculosis (TB) patients, hasn’t been serving its purpose lately. Under this scheme, Rs 500 cash was directly transferred to the beneficiaries’ account, but lately, it has been observed, patients in Mumbai are not getting financial aid and their ration supply too has been stopped. A 19-year-old teenager from Mumbai is battling from Multidrug Resistance (MDR) Tuberculosis for the past few months.
He is currently undergoing treatment, which will continue till next year. Until February, he used to receive ration regularly (nutritious food for TB patient), but, suddenly his monthly ration has been halted, and has also not received the cash benefit as well. “Earlier, I used to regularly receive monthly ration from the government scheme but, suddenly it has now been stopped. We don’t know what happened. Also, the financial aid of Rs 500, promised by the government has not reached us,” he said.
Under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), a monthly ration consisting of wheat, rice, sprouts and protein supplements are provided to the patients. Nutritious supplements benefit thousands of poor and needy patients. Senior official said the system under which cash benefit is to be provided to the patients is big. So, this might have caused a delay in transferring financial aid. “There were a few glitches in the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme. Owing to which, the patients had to suffer. However, we are trying our level best to rectify the system, so that we can reach to the patients,” he added. -Staff Reporter
