Over 15,000 students receive branded educational kits through PCMC's DBT initiative
Within just two weeks of the new academic year starting on June 16, over 15,000 students from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) schools have received their educational kits through the civic body's Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) initiative.
Bringing speed, transparency, and choice to the distribution process, PCMC is using the digital e-RUPI platform developed in collaboration with Bank of Maharashtra. Students and parents are issued QR-code-based digital vouchers that can be redeemed at authorised vendors for school kits — a model that has reduced delays and allowed parents to collect the materials conveniently. So far, educational materials worth Rs 4 crore have been disbursed, according to officials. This year's kits include quality, branded items tailored to different class groups.
The inclusion of branded materials ensures durability, usability, and a sense of pride among students, the civic administration said. Additional Commissioner Pradip Jambhale-Patil said,'We have addressed multiple challenges this year—from vendor empanelment to quality verification of branded materials. We ensured that parents faced no hurdles in accessing entitlements. Going forward, we will continue to improve the speed and efficiency of the DBT process.'
PCMC has empanelled a network of local distributors to supply the materials directly. Each student's entitlement is mapped digitally, and all disbursements are tracked in real-time to maintain accountability. According to PCMC Administrative officer Sangeeta Bangar, over 15,000 students have already received their kits, and the process is underway to cover the remaining students in a phased manner.
'From the first day of school, our teams have worked across all levels to make sure every student receives their educational kit. With over 15,000 kits already distributed, we are on track to cover all students. No child will be left without their entitlements,' said Assistant Commissioner (Education) Tanaji Narale. 'Thanks to the continued implementation of the DBT model, we have once again ensured the timely delivery of quality materials to our students this academic year. The use of e-RUPI has enabled efficient fund utilization and direct benefits for students. We are committed to ensuring that not a single child is left behind,' said PCMC Commissioner Shekhar Singh.
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Time of India
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