A 13x jump in cash transfers to women has brought nearly 120 million beneficiaries under social schemes, according to an analysis by The Economic Times. These programmes are currently offering lower-income households a degree of financial stability, representing a major expansion in direct support.
However, the report suggests that simply increasing direct payments may not maximize long-term impact. Transitioning these initiatives into a 'cash-plus' architecture could yield better outcomes for recipients, though such a model carries the risk of a mounting cost on state ledgers.
The analysis notes that while direct payments offer stability, integrating additional services with cash could improve overall effectiveness for the beneficiaries involved.
