Bengaluru: The govt has stepped up plans to establish a data analytics cell to create a unified database of beneficiaries across its welfare and social security schemes, a move aimed at identifying duplication, plugging leaks and improving delivery. Announced by chief minister Siddaramaiah in the 2026-27 budget, the proposed cell will collate beneficiary data from the 15 to 20 people-facing departments and cross-reference them to generate a master list accessible across departments. Officials said the initiative is intended to ensure only eligible people receive benefits. Pankaj Kumar Pandey, principal secretary, e-governance department, said the move comes amid allegations of leaks in the guarantee schemes such as Gruha Lakshmi, including instances of funds being drawn in the names of deceased beneficiaries. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, at a KDP meeting in Kanakapura recently, said: “There are reports that schemes like Gruha Lakshmi and Anna Bhagya are being misused. I have collected details from officials and locals.” The proposed system will also help the govt regulate expenditure, potentially saving public funds. Beyond welfare schemes, the cell is expected to aid in detecting revenue leakages. For instance, one proposal under consideration involves linking data from the energy and commercial taxes departments to identify firms that exist only on paper. “If a company is operational, it should have an active electricity connection. If not, it probably exists only on paper. This can help identify shell companies,” an official said, adding that such cases could then be flagged for physical inspection. But concerns have been raised over potential political misuse of a centralised database, especially with the state heading for assembly elections in 2028. The data analytics cell is proposed to be run by a nine-member team, with an annual salary outlay of Rs 2.6 crore and an additional Rs 1 crore earmarked for hardware and software requirements.
