S5 Ep78: Does JAM Trinity and PDS Ensure the Coronavirus Relief Package Reaches Last Mile with Astha Kapoor from Aapti Institute

With Covid-19 unleashing an economic crisis at an unprecedented scale, the role of new age Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) infrastructure with India's legacy Public Distribution System (PDS) in providing much needed relief to the poorest of the poor, be it in cash or in kind, cannot be understated. In that backdrop it was a real pleasure to pick the brain of Astha Kapoor, Co-founder of the Aapti Institute, to hear her views on the government's INR1.7Lcr relief package.  

As a public policy consultant, Astha closely looked at the interface of technology within delivery of government welfare services. She brings unique insights to the discussion by insisting that in the age of digital, whilst it is natural to overestimate the ability of JAM, one also mustn't underestimate the reach of PDS.