Context: Recently, National Health Authority (NHA) has started an exercise to integrate beneficiary database under several schemes for upgrading its own database in a bid to implement scheme in a better manner.
Key Points

• NHA has collaborated with various ministries implementing welfare schemes to strengthen the different aspects of scheme implementation including inter alia beneficiary awareness campaigns, beneficiary database (SECC 2011) enrichment etc. 
• The beneficiary database enrichment under AB PM-JAY would mean adding additional parameters to the database for ease of search. 
• The majority of AB PM-JAY beneficiaries from SECC 2011 are also eligible for benefits under National Food Security Portal (NFSA). 
• NHA is also working on a proposal to use Fair Price Shops or Ration shops for providing information related to the scheme and entitlement under the scheme to eligible beneficiaries. 
• This will provide an additional avenue to beneficiaries along with the existing Common Service Center for card creation. This will make the beneficiary identification process very convenient.

However, the existing beneficiary data available with various Government welfare schemes can be meaningfully utilized only if a common identifier is available. 

• Aadhaar being a common identity across the majority of Government databases will enable this integration.  
• Further, Aadhaar also ensures certainty regarding beneficiary identification through e-KYC. e-KYC enables paperless delivery of services in a targeted manner.

About National Health Authority (NHA) 

• The NHA is mandated with the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri–Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). 
• AB PM-JAY provides health assurance of up to Rs. 5 lakh for a family a year, for secondary and tertiary care-related hospital- isations.
• The NHA is also working on a proposal to use fair price shops or ration shops for providing information related to the scheme and entitlement under the scheme to eligible beneficiaries.

About National Food Security Portal (NFSA)

• The NFSA provides a legal right to persons belonging to eligible households to receive foodgrains at subsidised price– rice at Rs 3/kg, wheat at Rs 2/kg and coarse grain at Rs 1/kg — under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). 
• Beneficiaries: Eligible households comprise two categories — priority households, and families covered by the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY). 
• Benefits: Priority households are entitled to receive 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month, whereas AAY households are entitled to 35 kg per month at the same prices.
• Coverage: 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population. 

About Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC)

• Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC), which collected the first figures on caste since 1931, is the largest exercise of the enumeration of caste. 
• SECC supplies data to differentiate the socio-economic status of households based on housing, educational status, landholding, differently abled, occupation, possession of assets, SC/ST households, incomes etc.
• The Census provides a portrait of the Indian population while the SECC is a tool to identify beneficiaries of state support.

By: Shubham Tiwari