DBT plugged Rs 5 lakh cr in leakages; those whose ill-gotten income stopped, will they love Modi: PM

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India's digital governance push has helped plug leakages in government welfare schemes, with nearly Rs 5 lakh crore saved from going into "wrong hands", thanks to direct benefit transfers, as he vowed to continue his fight against 'wrong practices'.

He said nearly Rs 50 lakh crore had been transferred directly to beneficiaries' bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer, helping ensure that government aid reached its intended recipients.

"And through this, nearly 5 lakh crore rupees...this is not a small number...5 lakh crore rupees have been saved from going into the wrong hands. Now tell me, those whose ill-gotten income has stopped, will they love Modi? Did I do the right thing or not? Should it be done or not? Should all these wrong practices be stopped or not?," he said addressing the inaugural session of Indian Mobile Congress here.


"No matter how much they shout or scream, I am determined to get it done," the prime minister said.

Modi observed that had the old system prevailed, Rs 5 lakh crore of the government would have gone into leakages, filling the pockets of such people.

"Modi has stopped this," he said adding that the money is now reaching rightful beneficiaries and being used for the right causes.